Intimate partner violence in South Asian communities: Exploring the notion of 'shame' to promote understandings of migrant women's experiences. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tonsing, Jenny; Barn, Ravinder
• Is Part Of: International social work. Volume 60:Number 3(2017:May)
• Page Start: 628
• Page End: 639
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Intimate partner violence -- migrant -- shame -- South Asian; Social service -- Periodicals; Social problems -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Community development -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1177/0020872816655868
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-8728

Abstract

The notion of 'shame' is increasingly being recognised as a tool with some explanatory power to help promote understandings about a range of social problems. Through an exploration of migrant South Asian women's experiences of domestic violence and help-seeking practices, this article considers the relevance of the notion of shame as a unit of analysis to help contribute to the growing theoretical and empirical literature. The article sheds light on the meanings, events, processes and structures in the lives of migrant South Asian women respondents living in Hong Kong. Within the framework of the discussion on shame and intimate partner violence (IPV), the article also identifies the implications for social work practice.