Suicidality of young ethnic minority women with an immigrant background: The role of autonomy

Abstract

Ethnic minority status and female gender convey a risk for suicidal behavior, yet research of suicidality of ethnic minority female immigrants is scarce. The authors of this article conducted qualitative interviews with 15 young women (of four ethnicities) in the Netherlands, who either had attempted suicide or contemplated suicide, and analyzed these in a narrative psychology tradition. Suicidality was associated with despair and frustration over the violation of the women's personal autonomy and self-integrity regarding strategic life choices. Autonomy restrictions and violations followed two patterns, which are interconnected with four criteria regarding the capacity for autonomy. Findings are discussed with referral to Durkheim and feminist theories of autonomy. KeywordsDurkheim, ethnic minorities, immigrant women, personal autonomy, suicidal behavior, suicidal ideation A remarkable finding with regard to the epidemiology of non-fatal suicidal behaviour and suicidal ideation is the predictive role that gender plays. Young women demonstrate high levels of non-fatal suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation compared to males (Bursztein Lipsicas et al., 2012). Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research investigating the

“You Don’t Want to Be Perceived as Wild and Unruly”: How Ethnic Minority Women Experience and Negotiate Their Autonomy within Honor-Related Contexts

“…The difference between participants who managed to renegotiate honor codes and participants who detached themselves from honor codes after a turning point, is that the former group had some leeway to voice their concerns with family members while the latter group did not (as this would lead to severe repercussions). These findings reveal that the capacity for autonomy becomes more impaired when there is no room for discussion because of severely violent circumstances, a point that is supported by other scholars as well (see, van Bergen and Saharso 2015;Mackenzie 2007). That is why four participants were able to envision the necessary steps to detach themselves from honor codes, while the remaining ten participants could envision this only after experiencing a significant turning point.…”

“…Several participants contemplated suicide, and two participants attempted suicide. Indeed, violation of personal autonomy regarding life choices is associated with suicidality among ethnic minority women in Europe (van Bergen et al 2012;van Bergen and Saharso 2015;Heredia Montesinos et al 2013, 2019. Therefore, the findings further highlight the need for attention to women's psychological wellbeing when they experience violence because of imposed feminine honor codes and their detachment from these codes.…”

The Relationship between Intimate Partner Violence and Suicidal Ideation among Young Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese American Women

“…Feminist scholars have highlighted the multiple marginalized statuses of women of color, including Asian American women, as their lives are embedded within systems of oppression from both their own minority culture and the dominant White American culture (Comas-Díaz & Greene, 1994; Noh, 2003; Noh, 2007; van Bergen & Saharso, 2015). Within the U.S. society, Asian American women have at least a double minority status as females and as racial minorities and, thus, are subjected to both patriarchal oppression and systemic racism.…”

Relations of civil liberties and women’s health satisfaction around the globe: The explanatory power of autonomy

“…Lee and Shaw, 2011). While the underlying mechanisms for the association between sociopolitical structures and health are underexplored (Franco et al, 2004;Major et al, 2018), qualitative analyses show women from nations more likely to restrict their freedoms identified this violation of autonomy as a primary reason for attempted or contemplated suicide (Van Bergen and Saharso, 2016). Though still nascent, the existing quantitative literature suggests that the health disparity women face around the world might be in part explained by lower autonomy experienced by this group.…”