Religious and cultural influences on domestic
violence attitudes and responses in UK ethnic
minority and migrant communities: A qualitative inquiry
The thirteenth issue of ‘Evidence Bits’ is based on the publication: Istratii, R., Paszkiwicz, N., Ahmed, A., King, G. E., Ali, P., Feder, G and Teck Ascurra, M. (2025) Religious and Cultural Influences on Domestic Violence Attitudes and Responses in UK Ethnic and Migrant Communities: A Qualitative Inquiry. Violence: An International Journal, SAGE.
The study explored attitudes and responses to domestic violence and abuse (DVA) engaging ethnic minority and migrant faith communities in the UK. The study was conducted with twenty four female and male participants from Ethiopian, Eritrean and Bangladeshi faith communities, encompassing both Muslims and Christians.
While migrant and ethnic minority communities are not necessarily reported to experience DVA more frequently than non-migrant communities, they face an intersection of migration-specific vulnerabilities that can contribute towards it and create additional barriers to accessing support. This includes norms and pressures ascribed from their country of origin as well as pressures in the host society and structural inequalities and barriers created by the UK statutory system.
Most participants identified multiple perpetrators within the extended family, particularly mothers-in-law who in many cases occupy an elevated hierarchical position and have a direct influence on the relationship. Notions of stigma and honour prevent survivors of DVA from seeking external help or pursuing formal action.
Participants highlighted that religious establishments are male-dominated spaces that lack a nuanced awareness and understanding of different forms of abuse, making survivors less likely to seek support within them.
Participants underlined the potential role that religious establishments can play in supporting survivors of DVA within ethnic minority and migrant faith communities, but also their current unpreparedness to do so.
