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Issues in Domestic Violence: Comparing Woman Battering in Taiwan and the United States (From International Criminal Justice: Issues in a Global Perspective, P 203-217, 2000, Delbert Rounds, ed. -- See NCJ-183129)

NCJ Number
183145
Author(s)
Yenli Yeh; Paula S. Drach-Brillinger
Date Published
2000
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study compares woman battering in the United States and Taiwan and addresses the issues by using content analysis.
Abstract
Comparisons between the United States and Taiwan are made in the following areas: definition of woman battering, the prevalence of woman battering, battered women's physical injuries and mental suffering, the perseverance of abusive relationships, informal social support for battered women, and the official response of the two criminal justice systems. The study first conducts a review of the literature regarding western women's and Chinese women's status in their respective societies. Next, an examination of the characteristics of woman battering victims in Taiwan involved the analysis of six recent woman-battering papers written by Taiwanese researchers. This profile was compared with similar literature on woman battering in the United States. Comparisons included the definition of woman battering, the prevalence of woman battering, battered women's physical injuries and mental sufferings, reasons why women do not leave abusive relationships, informal social support, and the official response of the criminal justice system. Similarities between woman battering in the two societies were found in the injuries received, the reasons for not leaving an abusive relationship, and the sources from which help is sought. In the United States, the mental and emotional aspects of woman battering have been included in the social and legal definitions of woman battering; however, Taiwan is several years behind in this regard. Access to support systems, informal and formal, were touted as extremely important to women in both countries. Often battered women in both countries suffer years of violence before they seek help from formal support systems. Although some differences in the law exist between the two countries, women in the United States and Taiwan believe that assistance from the formal support system is limited. In both countries, women sought help from friends and family first; the formal system was used as a last resort. A critical step is the continued education of the public and justice professionals in both Taiwan and the United States. Further, both societies must recognize that domestic violence is unacceptable behavior and make it known that such behavior will not be tolerated in their societies. 2 tables and 47 references