Work

Intimate partner violence against women and its related immigration stressors in Pakistani immigrant families in Germany

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: This paper addresses the issue of intimate partner violence against women and its related immigration stressors in Pakistani immigrant families in Germany. Drawing on 32 in-depth interviews with Pakistani women in three cities in Germany, we found that psychological violence was the commonly reported violence among the study participants. The data showed that the process of immigration exacerbated tensions between spouses because of various immigration stressors such as threats to cultural identity, children's socialization, and social isolation. In order to cope with the stressful spousal relations, women applied various indigenous strategies, but avoided seeking help from the host country's formal care-providing institutions. This study also debunks some stereotypes and popular media clichés about the "victimhood of women from conservative developing countries" and provides an understanding of the issue of intimate partner violence within an immigration context. Further research with a larger sample will be helpful to understand immigration-induced stress and intimate partner violence in immigrant families.

Source: SpringerPlus

DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-1-5

Authors: Rubeena Zakar, Muhammad Z Zakar, Thomas Faist, Alexander Kraemer

Institutions: University of the Punjab, Bielefeld University

Language: English

Topic: Intimate Partner and Family Violence

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Estimated APC paid: $916