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Violence Against Women and its Impact Across Cultures

Alejandra Alejos, Bayan Fares, and Dejah Johnson

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Background Information: Articles Found

Natalie Sokoloff (2004) discusses that there is much beauty to be found in cultures, but they are a huge factor when it comes to perpetuating violence against women.
Melissa Breger (2014) writes that people adopt “a culture that normalizes violence towards women” and that modern society “is embedded with implicit biases against women” that create the inequality and violence. She discusses how this normalization needs to be undone and prevented in future generations by teaching children a different way of life.
Many other articles were written about domestic violence, degrading women's integrity,

women’s overall behavior when put in violent atmospheres, and many studies done

in specific countries.

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Background Information: Studies Found

Studies conducted across different countries have shown the negative effects violence can have on women. Not only does it affect their physical health (like gaining weight because they feel unappreciated and worthless as shown in a study done in Egypt), but their mental health as well and the negative effects this can have in their lives (Yount, 2011).

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Questions remained to be answered

The overall effect of violence and patriarchy on women within American

society and the broader effects this has on that very society is something

that has not been delved into in the depth that is needed, and this is what has intrigued this research.

How does violence affect women?
Does it have negative or positive effects on their behavior and beliefs?
Does a person’s familial history and cultural beliefs impact their lives?

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The mission of this research is to see how the Caucasian, Latino, African American, South Asian, and Middle Eastern American communities are affected by secondhand violence.

Aim

Of

Study

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Research Hypothesis (H1): Violence against women is reinforced through various forms in the Caucasian, Latino, African American, Middle Eastern, and South Asian cultures within the United States.

Contingent Research Hypothesis (H1): If the research hypothesis is found to be correct, then that reinforced violence has negative effects on women at similar levels regardless of culture.

Hypotheses

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Methodology

Research designs that were used:

Purposive sampling, quota sampling, and as a last resort snowball sampling.

Data Collection:

The survey was offered in online form.
Surveyed Valparaiso University female students, and females in the broader surrounding communities.

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Survey Analysis

Measurements (Research Hypothesis) & Impacts (Contingent Hypothesis)

First and second hand violence.
We measured this by asking measurement questions that we split into two sections:

Section I: Measure participants’ backgrounds
Section II: Measure the impact their backgrounds had on them & their beliefs

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Example Questions from Questionnaire:

Section I:

What do you think is the appropriate role of a woman in society?
Does your religion inform what the role of women should be in the household?
Have you ever seen someone get hit by their partner?
Have you ever been verbally insulted by a previous or present partner?

Section II:

Have you ever felt uncomfortable walking out by yourself at night?
Have your ever felt that you had been treated differently or unequally at your workplace because of your gender?

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Survey Analysis

continued...

Demographics:

The average survey participant:

Female
Between the ages of 18-29
From Christian or Muslim traditions
Single
University students
Grew up in two-parent homes
Raised in either cities or suburbs

From one of these five American subcultures: Caucasian, African American, Middle Eastern, South Asian, or Latino(a).

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Data & Results

To be a homemaker
Women should focus on her career and how to benefit society
Women should have a balance between career and home-life

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Data Results

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Data Results continued...

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Data Results continued..

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Data Results continued..

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Impacts

(Contingent Hypothesis)

Regardless of culture:

56% noted that they felt they had been treated unequally at the workplace due to their gender.

64% of Latina women
61% of Middle Eastern women
P .05 > .001

91% of participants reported feeling uncomfortable walking out alone at night.

P. 05 > .001

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Implications:

This data confirms our research and contingent hypothesis.

“Research Hypothesis (H1): Violence against women is reinforced through various forms in the Caucasian, Latino, African American, Middle Eastern, and South Asian cultures within the United States.”