Communities Join Together To Promote
Behavioral Health
Culture Clash: Domestic Violence
By Kristin Blank
A summit panel on domestic violence
opened a discussion on traditional gender roles that affect relationships
in many Arab and Muslim households.
According to Ahmed I. Samatar, Ph.D.,
James Wallace Professor of International
Studies and Dean, Institute for Global
Citizenship, Macalester College, “Gender
is the big fly in the ointment of the
Islamic community, just as race is
for the U.S. society.”
In general, in traditional homes in
this community, the father is the ruler
of the house, said Asma A. Ejaz, M.D.,
Chief of the Addiction Psychiatry Department
at the Nassau University Medical Center.
“In domestic violence, what
is really at stake is the power,” said
Kushalata Ahmed, M.D., Consultant in
Mental Health at the Islamic Center
of Long Island. “Once you have
the power, no one wants to let go of
it.”
Often, medical and mental health care
providers are the ones who help women
and children in domestic violence situations.
Women
who go to their spiritual leaders for
help often hit a dead end, noted Dr.
Ejaz. “Local clergy often
will tell them, just pray, it’ll
get better, just hang in there,” she
said.
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Psychological Abuse
In addition to experiencing physical
harm, Arab and Muslim women
may be psychologically abused. Men
may try to isolate women from support
networks and monitor their movements. “We
have worked with cases where there
have been hidden cameras in the house,” said
Dr. Ejaz. “There was one case
where a spouse even put cameras in
the bathroom.”
Other times, wives suffer humiliation
in front of family and friends or are
denied funds—even for groceries
or health insurance. Dr. Ejaz reported
cases where abusers destroyed women’s
immigration papers and diplomas.
Mental health and emotional problems
are common in domestic violence victims,
with issues including suicidal ideation,
depression, anxiety, eating disorders,
post-traumatic stress disorder, and
substance abuse, according to Dr. Ejaz.
To help, service providers can take
some steps that are common for all
groups, such as ensuring their safety—sometimes
removing them to a safe home or shelter—providing
moral support, and assuring confidentiality.
When treating members of Arab and
Muslim populations who have
been abused, sometimes special steps
are necessary, Dr. Ejaz said. Practitioners
should:
Take into account religious
and cultural morés the women may have
been taught, especially regarding appropriate
gender roles in a traditional Islamic
household. -
Explain to women that the
abuse is not their fault, despite what
they may have learned about women’s
status under some cultural or religious
traditions.
Provide assistance with legal
issues, such as divorce or restraining
orders, and other issues if women are
not yet U.S. citizens. -
Provide referrals for vocational
training (when applicable) in addition
to rehabilitation to help women become
more self-sufficient. Many Arab and
Muslim women who have experienced domestic
violence already have professional
training, as Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Ejaz
noted that many of their clients are
doctors and lawyers.
For children, according to Dr. Ahmed,
the availability of a supportive adult
helps the child to cope with trauma.
Such support may lead to children breaking
the cycle of abuse when they become
adults.
Dr. Ahmed said, “A supportive
aunt or teacher may prevent children
from believing that everyone is bad.” 
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See Also—Promoting
the Well-Being of Arab and Muslim Youth
« Joining Together
« Preventing and Treating Substance
Abuse
« Refugee
Experience
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