Akinsulure-Smith Adeyinka M, Chu Tracy, Keatley Eva, Rasmussen Andrew
The City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA.
J Aggress Maltreat Trauma. 2013;22(1):109-129. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2013.719592.
Although the number of African immigrants arriving to the United States has increased significantly, there has been little investigation regarding their experiences of intimate partner violence or coping strategies. This study used focus groups and individual interviews to explore intimate partner violence among 32 heterosexual West African immigrants. Results suggest that although cultural expectations influence their coping strategies, West African-born men and women face different realities, with women reporting multiple instances of abuse and a sense of frustration with the existing options for assistance. Although participants discussed multilevel support structures within the immediate West African community to address intimate partner violence, all of these options maintained a gender hierarchy, leaving women dissatisfied. Challenges and barriers to partner violence resolution and coping strategies are identified. Results are examined in terms of their implications for addressing the needs of this underserved population. Implications for future research and services are discussed and highlighted.
尽管抵达美国的非洲移民数量显著增加，但对于他们遭受亲密伴侣暴力的经历或应对策略却鲜有调查。本研究采用焦点小组和个人访谈的方式，对32名异性恋西非移民中的亲密伴侣暴力情况进行了探索。结果表明，尽管文化期望会影响他们的应对策略，但出生于西非的男性和女性面临着不同的现实情况，女性报告了多次受虐经历，并且对现有的援助选择感到沮丧。尽管参与者讨论了西非社区内部为解决亲密伴侣暴力而设立的多层次支持结构，但所有这些选择都维持了性别等级制度，这让女性感到不满。研究确定了伴侣暴力解决和应对策略方面的挑战与障碍。并根据这些结果对满足这一服务不足群体需求的意义进行了审视。还讨论并强调了对未来研究和服务的启示。
