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\u27 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\u27s 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