Culturally Embedded Values Relating to Domestic Violence: A Study of Korean Migrant Women in Sydney, Australia

Gyung-sook Jane Lee

Chonnam National University, South Korea

Abstract

This paper questions why Korean migrant women who reside in Sydney, Australia tend not to access Australian information and services designed to address domestic violence. It identifies the recognition of domestic violence as a key issue, in which traditional Korean notions of feminine virtue may obscure or disallow any discussion of disturbance in the family unit. These notions include those of “couple fight,” endurance, obedience, shame or “face,” and marital and wifely duty. Migration to Australia does not alter many of these notions, which remain as powerful constructive elements of their life stories. Through the analysis of the life stories of 33 Korean migrant women, it is argued that it is impossible to be a “good Korean woman” and to recognise and discuss domestic violence as presented in the Australian context. The paper points to the necessity of Australian information and services designed to address domestic violence to appeal to Korean ideals of feminine virtue if they are to be effective.

Keywords:

discourse analysis, domestic violence, Korean migrant women, perceptions, culture of victim blaming

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Chonnam National University Research Fund.

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Biographical Note

Gyung-sook Jane Lee earned her Ph.D. (Economics) at the University of Sydney, Australia. Her research interests are female migrant issues in the workplace and equal opportunity in the labor market. She is currently teaching at Chonnam National University and engaged in a research project on 1.5 generation and 2nd generation of Korean migrants in Australia, which was commissioned by the Academy of Korean Studies. E-mail: jane.gs.lee@gmail.com