Violence is an International Language: Tamil Women's Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence

• NCJ Number: 225222
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 14 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 1397-1412
• Author(s): Robin Mason; Ilene Hyman; Helene Berman; Sepali Guruge; Pushpa Kanagaratnam; Lisa Manuel
• Date Published: December 2008
• Length: 16 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the ways in which Sri Lankan Tamil women in Toronto, Canada understand, define, and experience intimate partner violence (IPV).

Abstract

The findings suggest that definitions of intimate partner violence (IPV) are not culturally specific. Rather, Tamil women, irrespective of their age or stage of life, defined IPV broadly recognized as rooted in power and control, where coercive control is expressed in different forms, including physically, sexually, psychologically, verbally, and financially. Manifestations of IPV were also found, most notably as forms of psychological abuse that have particular meanings to the Tamil community. Research on IPV across populations is challenging because of the multiplicity of definitions and lack of clarity about the behaviors that constitute IPV. This qualitative study used focus group interviews as the main data source utilizing Sri Lankan Tamil women in Toronto, Canada. The study set out to understand the ways in which Sri Lankan Tamil women at different ages and life stages understand, define, and experience IPV. References