American Muslim Women and Domestic Violence Service Seeking: A Literature Review
Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work
Published online on June 14, 2016
Abstract
This article reports findings from a literature review of facilitators and barriers to domestic violence service seeking among American Muslim women. Racial, cultural, and ethnic differences were also examined. Facilitators and barriers to domestic violence service seeking were (1) cultural perceptions of abuse; (2) religious perceptions of abuse; (3) children; (4) feelings of embarrassment, fear, and shame; (5) immigration status and language barriers; (6) education level; (7) knowledge and perception of services; and (8) informal supports and support systems. However, the extant literature does not fully capture the diversity of American Muslims. Implications for future research are discussed.