An Ethnographic Study of a Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence in Korea. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Gihwa; Yang, Sungeun
• Is Part Of: Indian journal of gender studies. Volume 23:Number 3(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 376
• Page End: 392
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Violence against women -- domestic violence -- women survivors -- shelter -- ethnography -- Korea; Women's studies -- India -- Periodicals; Women in development -- India -- Periodicals; 305.40954
• DOI: 10.1177/0971521516656076
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0971-5215

Abstract

Domestic violence has been recognised as a crime against women in many countries. Korea, where traditional Confucianism is still fundamental to family life, has a short history of public support systems for domestic violence victims. The participants in this study were 4 social workers and 18 women living in a shelter and the purpose of the research was to look at their socio cultural back ground and responses to shelter-living. In-depth interviews and participant observation revealed that the essential goal of the women was to achieve a sense of self-reliance through the shared culture of the shelter. Specifically, the results showed the process of women's adaptation to the shelter, their struggle to stand alone, and start an independent life. The study emphasises the need to help woman survivors to overcome the feeling of helplessness caused by domestic violence.