Women-Centered Rituals and Levels of Domestic Violence: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Ritual as a Signaling and Solidarity-Building Strategy. (19th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stockly, Kate; Arel, Stephanie; DeFranza, Megan; Ruck, Damian; Matthews, Luke
• Is Part Of: Journal for the study of religion, nature and culture. Volume 14:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 123
• Publication Date: 2020-02-19
• Subjects: costly signaling theory -- ritual -- marriage residence patterns -- domestic violence -- solidarity -- women -- religion; Human ecology -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental protection -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; 201.7705
• DOI: 10.1558/jsrnc.38921
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-4907

Abstract

Abstract : Prior research indicates that ritual can be a source of social solidarity by signaling trustworthiness and group commitment. A separate line of research expects domestic violence against women to be more common in societies with post-marital residence at the husband's birthplace (i.e. patrilocality). Thus, we hypothesized that when wives are able to construct strong bonds with the female members of their communities through solidarity-building rituals, they gain social support capable of inhibiting violence, leading to lower overall levels of domestic violence--especially in patrilocal societies. Results indicated that certain types of women-centered rituals were associated with lower levels of sexual and domestic violence; however, we found inconsistent effects according to patrilocal residence. Women-centered rituals were not found to be associated with beliefs about the husband's prerogative to punish and dominate his spouse, and patrilocality did not contribute to the effects we found.