There is also the tradition of family secrecy and shame. The Japanese are sensitive to social norms and disdain deviancy. They tend to avoid deviant acts that would bring shame to their families. Deviant incidents, including domestic violence, are likely to be kept within the family. Scholars and practitioners are often frustrated by the strong sense of family secrecy that prevents incidents of domestic violence from becoming known outside the family.
Divorce is also traditionally a deviant, shameful life event, which most women avoid.
The above-noted tendency of battered women to remain married is consistent with this cultural norm. High virtue placed on women's chastity and virginity is pervasive. For women, sexual acts are often associated with shame and embarrassment. Because rape and sexual abuse are considered sexual acts, the victims are made to feel embarrassed and rarely speak out, let alone prosecute their perpetrators. Although abortion is legal, it is considered a shameful act among unwed women due to its implication of premarital sex and promiscuity.