Domestic violence in the African-American and Asian-American communities: A comparative analysis of two racial/ethnic minority cultures and implications for mental health service provision for women of color

The prevalence and causes of domestic violence specifically spousal abuse are examined in the general population representing all women and in particular as they apply to women of color in the African-American and Asian-American communities. Although family violence continues to gain recognition as a significant social, legal and women's health issue, accurately quantifying the extent and prevalence of spousal abuse remains problematic, especially in collecting and reporting data and targeting research for population subsets defined by ethnicity. Mainstream theories delineating sources of family violence are examined for their applicability to racial/ethnic minority cultures. Low self-esteem arm stress, generally attributed causes for why men batter and why women are victimized are reconfigured to include consideration of the effects of racism, racial stereotyping, socioeconomic inequities, and the immigration experience of both Asian-Americans and some African Americans. Barriers to service delivery and treatment access for women of color include not only language proficiency communication styles, cultural constraints against self-disclosure, family functioning traditions, economic dependence and community standards for acceptance of violence against women, but also the values, expectations and levels of cultural competency of mental and public health care providers.