title: How Cultural Constructions of Gender Interact with Social Structures to Shape Intimate Partner Violence in the African Immigrant Community in Chicago.
Creators: name: Wenham, Kathryn
Publisher: name: Griffith University
Year: 2018
Subjects: subject: Cultural constructions
subject: Gender interact
subject: Social structures
subject: Partner violence
subject: African immigrant community
subject: Chicago African community

description: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is at unacceptable levels in the majority of communities around the world, with global figures at about 30% of ever-partnered women having experienced physical or sexual IPV in their lifetime. Prevalence rates in immigrant communities are difficult to measure and often contested. However, we do know that the vulnerability of many women in immigrant communities makes IPV a particular concern. As a relatively new and fast growing immigrant group, the African immigrant community has received little research attention, and is often inappropriately studied within the larger Black American population. Some studies focus on those of particular national or ethnic backgrounds, making generalisation to immigrants from other national or ethnic backgrounds difficult. Scant research and inadequate understanding of IPV within the African immigrant community leaves limited options for effective prevention. The few studies that had been conducted focused on the changes in gender roles that occur with immigration. Many men lose their breadwinner status upon migration, which affects men’s ability to achieve masculinity. In order to maintain their masculinity, some men resort to violence within the domestic sphere. In order to fill the gaps in the literature, this research aimed to gain a fuller understanding of IPV within the African immigrant community, including the types of IPV that are used and the factors that contribute to men enacting such violence. In particular this research investigates how cultural constructions of gender interact with social structures to shape IPV. While recognising the diversity within this population, this study focused on some of the commonalities that shape IPV within the various African immigrant communities. This research drew on three theoretical frameworks: ecological framework, intersectionality, and hegemonic and multiple masculinities. The ecological framework was used primarily to structure the many factors that influence IPV. Its limitation is that it does not provide any explanatory models, particularly around the research focus of gender. Intersectionality was used to fill this gap, however its emphasis on power and oppression between genders limited our ability to analyse differences within genders that might be shaping IPV within this community. Therefore, multiple and hegemonic masculinities, which takes into account the use of hegemonic masculinity for men to gain power over women as well as other men, was also employed within this analysis. The research used a sequential mixed methods cross-sectional research design. This included 342 questionnaires, 18 interviews, and participant observation at community events. The use of quantitative analysis in a cross-sectional design has limitations regarding the showing of causality. To supplement the quantitative data, the research used qualitative data to help to explain some of the quantitative findings, to provide some contextual analysis that is unable to be gained from quantitative data, and to triangulate the research findings. The qualitative phase of the research took place subsequent to the quantitative phase to allow interview questions to be designed in response to the findings from the quantitative data. This sequencing of data collection was also in line with advice from community leaders to allow time for trust to develop before conducting in-depth interviews. Participant observations occurred throughout the research period and also provided contextual data as well as to assessed the integrity of some of the data around gender roles, which was open to self-report bias. Results indicate that fear of the legal system moderates the prevalence of physical IPV. However, less visible types of IPV, such as controlling behaviours and verbal IPV, may have become more prevalent in its place, or at least have not abated in response to the legal system. These less visible forms of IPV are often overlooked, but are nevertheless harmful to mental health, and need to be addressed. Although the quantitative results did not support the changed gender roles hypothesis from the literature, the qualitative data showed that, in line with the literature, the impact of changed gender roles through the loss of men’s breadwinner status was significant in shaping IPV. However, there was also an emerging masculinity centred on men being responsible community members who lead through adapting to the changes in gender roles. This more egalitarian masculinity could facilitate progress to decrease IPV within this community but requires further investigation. In terms of the methodology of the research, the use of a strengths-based research approach helped to uncover community-inspired solutions to their issues. Additionally, the use of three theories helped to provide a contextual analysis and highlight interactions between cultural or social norms and social structures. Significantly, this was the space where much of the influence on IPV emerged. Findings from this research are useful to guide future research and to inform prevention programs.