Surviving intimate partner violence in a segregated community: the case of ultra-Orthodox Jewish women

Abstract

ABSTRACT As a “faith-based community”, the ultra-Orthodox society is a differentiated minority group, which has recently recognised intimate partner violence as a social problem. The members of this conservative, patriarchal society keep themselves in a secluded sphere, apart from the modern, secular Western society. The aim of this paper is to explore the experience of ultra-Orthodox women coping with intimate partner violence. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 ultra-Orthodox women coping with intimate partner violence in Israel, 27–49 years of age, all clients of the social services. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: The experience of not being able to build a “faithful Jewish home”; strengthening one’s faith as a means to survival; and the meaning of “tikun” and choice. The impact of these findings is examined in the context of culture-sensitive interventions.