“Walking Between the Raindrops”: Intimate Partner Violence in the Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel From Social Workers’ Perspective

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) in faith-based communities has unique characteristics that social workers should consider. This qualitative study examines how social workers describe their encounter with abused Jewish ultra-Orthodox women. In-depth interviews were conducted among 24 social workers (one man, 23 women: four were ultra-Orthodox, 19 were modern Orthodox, and one was secular); all respondents worked in the public sector, welfare offices, and non-profit organizations in ultra-Orthodox communities. Three major themes emerged: (a) "There is no guardian against unchastity": Is there no safe haven when it comes to domestic violence?; (b) "I'm not religious enough, not disciplined enough": describing the experience of violence in the therapeutic encounter; and (c) "walking between the raindrops": culturally sensitive social work in the context of IPV. Findings and implications are discussed in the context of cultural sensitivity.

Ultra-Orthodox Lesbian Women in Israel: Alternative Family Structures as a Bridge between Religious and Sexual Identities

“…These considerations typically carry more weight than the potential implications of conflicts between the couple on the mental health of the parents and children. As a result, even in severe cases, such as spousal violence, the integrity of the family is likely to take precedence over personal welfare [24]. The same is true when there are signs of sexual abuse within the family.…”

“…Statistics from 2020 show a 4% divorce rate in this sector in Israel, as compared to 16% in the rest of the population [45]. The ultra-Orthodox regard divorce as an infringement of the precept of the integrity of the family unit, and therefore to be avoided at all costs [24]. The decision to get a divorce despite this attitude might be expected to allow the women to openly express their sexual identity.…”

A Scoping Review on the Role of Religion in the Experience of IPV and Faith-Based Responses in Community and Counseling Settings

“…The aforementioned study by Adjei and Mpiani (2022) in Ghana reported that perpetrators employed a prescriptive theology of male headship and authority in marriage, which was related to IPV. Another aforementioned study, which relied on interviews with 24 social workers in daily contact with Haredi women experiencing partner violence, found that religion was used as a double-edged sword and that women experienced emotional as well as spiritual violence when the husband used religion to not only justify the violence but also to control the woman (Band-Winterstein & Freund, 2018).…”

Intimate Partner Violence in an Orthodox Jewish Community in the United States: A Qualitative Exploration of Community Members’ Perspectives

“…According to Yodanis (2004), when men dominate familial, religious, economic, and other social institutions both in number and in power, the policies and practices of these institutions are likely to “embody, reproduce and legitimize male dominance over women.” (p. 657). The familial structure in Orthodox Judaism is traditional and predicated on clear gender role divisions (Band-Winterstein & Freund, 2018). As explicated above, Orthodox Jewish men’s roles revolve around the public sphere, in religion and prayer, while Orthodox Jewish women’s roles center on the private/domestic sphere, specifically child-rearing and maintaining peace within the household (Grodner & Sweifach, 2004; Ringel & Bina, 2007).…”