Domestic Violence Among Japanese American Women and Their Cultural Background

Although studies of domestic violence have been conducted over the past twenty years, they have yet to take into account the ways in which ethnicity influences victims' attitudes and behaviors. For example, little research has been done on domestic violence within the Japanese American community. In addition to cultural differences and language barriers, other variables such as: vertical society, family cohesion, sewa nyobo, "self-blame" and permissiveness influence Japanese American women's response to domestic violence. Healthcare providers should keep in mind that traditional indicators of domestic violence, such as post traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders, may be invalid. Disparity between quality of care and access to limited resources and public services is an ongoing problem within this specific population. This journal article is available in Journal of Student Nursing Research: http://repository.upenn.edu/josnr/vol1/iss1/1 Although studies of domestic violence have been conducted over the past twenty years, they have yet to take into account the ways in which ethnicity influences victims’ attitudes and behaviors. For example, little research has been done on domestic violence within the Japanese American community. In addition to cultural differences and language barriers, other variables such as: vertical society, family cohesion, sewa nyōbō, “self-blame” and permissiveness influence Japanese American women’s response to domestic violence. Healthcare providers should keep in mind that traditional indicators of domestic violence, such as post traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders, may be invalid. Disparity between quality of care and access to limited resources and public services is an ongoing problem within this specific population. Nahoko Harada, BSN Domestic Violence Among Japanese American Women and Their Cultural Background