Feminist Theory and Status Inconsistency Theory: Application to Domestic Violence in Chinese Immigrant Families

• NCJ Number: 188130
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 7 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2001 Pages: 545-562
• Author(s): Alice G. Yick
• Date Published: May 2001
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article examines feminist and status inconsistency theories and their application to domestic violence in Chinese immigrant families in the United States.

Abstract

Feminist theorists broadly define domestic violence as male coercion of women, and wife abuse is one form of violence against women. Others include rape, sexual assault, female infanticide, marital rape, and female genital mutilation. The common denominators in all these forms of violence are gender and power. The cause of wife assault is viewed as male domination in a patriarchal system. The Chinese family has been characterized as patriarchal, in that power and authority are transmitted from father to the eldest son, and all are expected to obey the male head. Patriarchal authority is most notably expressed over women. The emphasis on family and its hierarchical structure provides a context for understanding domestic violence in Chinese immigrant families. Status inconsistency theory stems from a sociological perspective advocated by Murray Straus and Richard Gelles, who argue that spouse abuse is a form of family violence. The theory asserts that decision making power is contingent on the amount and the perceived value of the resources the individual contributes to the family; therefore, the family is a power system, and every member uses some degree of force, although force is not necessarily equated with physical violence. Status inconsistency suggests that violence is more likely to occur when an individual's status is inconsistent with new norms or when standard norms that govern the family become ambiguous. This article discusses how this occurs in Chinese immigrant families that experience the impact of the economic and social realities of a new dominant culture. The authors argue that domestic violence in Chinese immigrant families, and more generally Asian immigrant communities in the United States, should be viewed as a distinct social problem. Directions for future research are discussed. 49 references