Attitudes and beliefs about family and domestic violence in faith‐based communities: An exploratory qualitative study

Abstract

Family and domestic violence (FDV) is a major social, economic and health issue that is associated with a range of physical, mental and behavioural health outcomes. Religion and faith are powerful and influential in shaping the lives of many individuals and societies, in addition to the social practices, norms and structures that are significant in understanding and responding to FDV. This study examines the influence of religious beliefs and values on attitudes and beliefs of FDV among culturally diverse faith communities in Australia. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 64 participants from a range of cultural and religious backgrounds and included faith leaders, community members and FDV sector workers. Overall, findings indicate that tensions exist between expressions of faith and attitudes to women and FDV. Whilst there is general agreement among participants that their faiths did not condone violence, they also identified cultural structures related to their faiths that enabled and ignored abuse against women. Further exploration of these issues within specific faith | 881 TRUONG eT al.

“Gatekeeping Family Violence”: The Role of Religious and Community Leaders in the Afghan Migrant Community in South Australia

“…Further, Islam can be used to educate people about and respond to instances of family violence, particularly when understood alongside Australian law and socio-legal knowledge about family violence. Other studies have also promoted this view of Islam (Truong et al 2020(Truong et al , 2022Ibrahim 2022;Jayasundara et al 2017). This study demonstrates the potential for religious leaders in this community to utilise a more progressive understanding of Islam which can be a bridge to the wider Australian community and the legal system.…”

“…156-59;Ravi et al 2022;McMullin 2018;Le Roux et al 2016, pp. 27-29;Truong et al 2022). As Ghafournia (2017, pp.…”

“…More recent literature in the field of family violence points to the influence of community leaders (Kulwicki et al 2010;Akinsulure-Smith et al 2013;Truong et al 2020Truong et al , 2022. In Australia, there is emerging data on the role of community leaders in Muslim migrant communities in relation to the way family violence is addressed within these communities (Ghafournia 2017;Ghafournia and Easteal 2021;Vaughan and Sullivan 2019;Vaughan et al 2020;Davis et al 2021;Ibrahim 2022Ibrahim , p. 2380.…”

The Impact of Marriage Norms and Gender on Anglican Clergy Actions in Response to Domestic Violence

“…Recent research studies, particularly those based on victim/survivor testimonies, suggest that certain norms can present risks to the safety of women who are experiencing violence (e.g., Barnes and Aune 2021;Knickmeyer et al 2010;Mulvihill et al 2022;Vaughan et al 2020;Zust et al 2021). For instance, in Christian settings, the principle of forgiveness of wrongdoing, a mandate for submission of wives to husbands, and the sanctity of marriage can be barriers to women in situations of DV seeking and receiving assistance (Nason-Clark et al 2017;Truong et al 2022;Westenberg 2017). Furthermore, male perpetrators can misuse Christian scripture to justify aspects of their abusive behavior or refer to the sacredness of marriage vows when they demand forgiveness (Lock 2018;Knickmeyer et al 2010;.…”

“…Beyond the more general shaping of norms, clergy can offer specific assistance to those who experience abuse by making referrals to DV support services, providing spiritual counsel, and supporting victim/survivors and their families in the long-term process of healing, and some clergy provide pastoral support and accountability for perpetrators (Nason-Clark et al 2017). Responses by clergy to DV were addressed in a range of recent research studies (e.g., Ames et al 2011;Behnke et al 2012;Bent-Goodley et al 2015;Choi 2015aChoi , 2015bChoi et al 2018;Davis and Johnson 2021;Dyer 2010;Nason-Clark et al 2017;Pepper and Powell 2022;Skiff et al 2008;Truong et al 2022;Williams and Jenkins 2019;Zust et al 2021). Some of these studies suggest a connection between clergy upholding gender stereotypes and/or norms protecting the sanctity of marriage and how clergy report they would respond in situations of DV (Behnke et al 2012;Choi 2015a;Skiff et al 2008;Truong et al 2022;Zust et al 2021).…”