Why Does Domestic Violence Against Women Still Happen in Rural Areas of China? A Systemic Review of Previous Studies on Cultural Factors

Abstract

A great deal of attention has long been paid to domestic violence against women owing to its long-lasting harm, whether physical or psychological, on the victim. The factors associated with domestic violence have been discussed by previous research. Among them, the impact of traditional culture is an indispensable part that can't be neglected. The pertinence has been proved by past studies, however, the comprehensive interpretation of the association between domestic violence and gender culture hasn't been stated. This study investigates the relationship between traditional gender culture and domestic violence against women in China. And the exact cultural influence on family violence is presented. The journal articles on intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence over a period of 24 years covering 1998-2022 were systematically reviewed in this article. And the cultural factors mentioned in the previous articles were carefully analyzed. Our analysis shows a strong relationship between culture and family violence against women. We conclude that traditional culture has somehow promoted the occurrence of family violence against women in China. The patriarchal ideology and filial piety (important parts of Chinese culture) are related to the occurrence and durative of domestic violence.