Women’s use of force: Hostility intertwines in Chinese family context

Abstract

Women can be both victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence but there is still little understanding of female-to-male intimate partner violence perpetration. Women’s motives for using force in intimate partner violence are currently understudied, and study through social service case record allows researchers to gather more objective descriptions of the violent events. Cultural values play a vital role in intimate relationships and impact how women react in conflicts. This study aimed to explore the motives of Chinese women who use force in intimate relationships, changes after using force, and the intervention provided from the retrospective analysis of case records. Results showed that Chinese women share some of the motivations reported by women from Western cultures, with additional motives related to family roles and in-law relationships relevant in Chinese culture. Understanding women’s needs through their underlying motives for perpetrating intimate partner violence is essential for providing effective gender- and cultural-specific interventions.