Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Constructions of local culture and impacts on domestic violence in an Australian rural community
Other Titles:	Journal of Rural Studies
Authors:	Wendt, Sarah
Keywords:	Community education;Regional rural and remote areas;Community attitudes
Year:	2009
Publisher:	Elsevier
Citation:	25 (2), April 2009
Notes:	General Overview: This Australian article reports on a study carried out in a rural South Australian town, which explored local culture and how it affected women’s experience of, and mens’ perpetration of, domestic violence. The paper begins with an overview of domestic violence in rural communities and a discussion of constructions of rural culture. Discussion: The author conducted a discourse analysis study of local cultural narratives and their effects on violent relationships. The researcher analysed local newspapers and conducted semi-structured face to face interviews with 18 community informants, 12 human service workers and 21 women who had experienced domestic violence. The author concludes that several local discourses affected issues surrounding domestic violence and had the power and influence to make it difficult to name and challenge domestic violence. These include: self reliance; pride; privacy; belonging and closeness; family; Christianity. She argues that is necessary to understand the values and beliefs of rural men and women, and develop targeted responses that engage with these, in order to sensitively challenge the discourses that create silence around domestic violence.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13996
ISSN:	7430167
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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