Transcript DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Why Culture?
By Sujata Warrier, Ph.D.
Email: [email protected]
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
1
Small group
What is your cultural identity?
How does your identity impact your
work?
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
2
Why Should We Consider Culture?
 Culture shapes an individual’s experience of
domestic violence.
 Culture shapes the offender’s response to
intervention and acceptance of responsibility.
 Culture shapes access to other services that
might be crucial for the victim.
 The culture of the system, the advocate and the
survivor will impact outcome.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
3
Explanations….
Exercise
– think of a difficult case you had where the victim
refused to follow any course of action
– Come up with the explanation you thought of first to
understand what was going on;
– list three more
– share with three of your colleagues and see how many
explanations you can come for each of your cases
 Process
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
4
Definition Of Culture
 A critical definition of culture refers to shared experiences
or commonalities that have developed and continue to
evolve in relation to changing social and political
contexts, based on:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
race
ethnicity
national origin
sexuality
gender
religion
age
class
©Sujata Warrier, 2013
disability status
immigration status
education
geographic location (space)
rural, urban,
time, or
other axes of identification
within the historical context
of oppression
5
Intersectionality
 People live multiple, layered lives derived from
social relations, history and the operation of the
structures of power.
 Understanding intersectionality exposes all
types of discrimination that occur as a
consequence of the combination.
 Something unique is produced at the point of
intersection – full complexity of experiences.
 No slotting people, no single form of
discrimination – exposes full range of
vulnerabilities as it links all structures of
oppressions.
7/20/2015
©Sujata Warrier, 2013
6
Culture (s) …….
Are about contestation.
Consist of permeable boundaries.
Packaged pictures of different
cultures are idealized constructions.
Often may reflect actual practices or
social life.
Reflect the values and practices of a
privileged group.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
7
Identities and Location
 Locate oneself and examine subject position vis a vis race, class, and other axes of
identification.
 The “I”is not an isolated event but is caught up
in the complexities that comprise culture.
 The ability to construct one’s identity is not a
luxury available to all.
 Linkages between who am I and what do I claim
to know.
 Also we need an account of the linkages.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
8
Intersectionality
 People live multiple, layered lives derived from
social relations, history and the operation of the
structures of power.
 Understanding intersectionality exposes all
types of discrimination that occur as a
consequence of the combination.
 Something unique is produced at the point of
intersection – full complexity of experiences.
 No slotting people, no single form of
discrimination – exposes full range of
vulnerabilities as it links all structures of
oppressions.
7/20/2015
©Sujata Warrier, 2013
9
Gender Based Violence
 Gender Based Violence (GBV) occurs on
a continuum - beginning with female
foeticide and ending with women murder
and includes female infanticide, incest,
sexual harassment, poverty, and
domestic violence.
 VAW can also be understood as
occurring on a tightening spiral or a coil
or as a corkscrew.
7/20/2015
©Sujata Warrier, 2013
10
Gender Based Violence
 As much as patriarchal domination varies
in shape, form and texture so too does
GBV.
 Since violence is used to control women
in patriarchal societies, it is important to
understand the nature of patriarchy and
its relationship to other forms of
oppression such as racism, colonialism,
heterosexuality etc.
7/20/2015
©Sujata Warrier, 2013
11
Similarities and Differences...
Work in pairs
– find a colleague who you think is
similar to you
– discuss what you have in common
– discuss where you differ
– along what axis of identification are
you similar and different
Work in pairs
– same process with someone dissimilar
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
12
Roles and Preoccupations
There are three roles or
preoccupations that we often deal
with when talking about culture in
various settings:
– Emissary
– Mirror
– Authentic Insider
The ideas of the roles and occupations are derived from and discussed in
detail by Uma Narayan in her book Dislocating Cultures.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
13
Roles and Preoccupations
 These roles are often assigned so it is
necessary to reflect on them.
 It is important to remember that when we
occupy any of these roles we enter a
space where there are a lot of concerns
around inclusion, diversity,
multiculturalism.
 These concerns can shape our entrance,
influence what is expected and gives us a
place that puts us in our place.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
14
Role of Emissary
This approach focuses on the
cultural riches and avoids all
“cultural problems”.
Focus on “high culture”.
Convey the riches to an appreciative
audience.
Idealizing the culture.
Crucial to undoing negative
stereotypes.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
15
Role of Emissary
Fails to pay attention to the material,
social and political contexts in
which achievements take place.
Is not self-reflective.
Issues of agency, articulation and
the role of feminism and women’s
issues.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
16
Role of the Mirror
This role facilitates the mainstream
to take an interest in the Other
without subjecting them to negative
criticism confirming the predations
and depredations of the West.
Attribute problems in communities
to colonization, imperialism and
globalization.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
17
Role of the Mirror
Role is still focused on the
mainstream and acts as a mirror.
Unnuanced and totalizing.
Lack of agency in being able to
return the gaze.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
18
The Authentic Insider
Permits and sanctions the
articulation of political and social
analysis.
Needs an actual person who can
speak in a critical way.
Permits more sustained attention to
issues and problems within the
culture.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
19
The Authentic Insider
Proprietary position between
advocate and culture.
Singularity of voice.
Sets limits on what the person can
speak on.
Issue of representation and
authenticity.
Position is conferred.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
20
Working with the community
 Listening
 Listening nonjudgmentally how do we offer
and receive
criticism
 Awareness of how
we respond to
attacks
 Honesty
 Learning about
the community by
attending
community events
before you
actually approach
the community
 Respect and
Humility
 Authenticity
 Open attitude
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
21
Commitment to Working with
Diversity
 It is morally the right thing to do
 It is absolutely necessary to build
community collaboration so that
particular communities can take
responsibility for addressing violence
against women.
 It helps battered women’s advocates and
programs provide quality care for victims
of domestic violence.
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
22
Reminder
“Our struggle is for a fundamental
change in social relationships rather than
for a per community quota of
representation sin the parliament of
“race” and “ethnicities.” We are engaged
in politics, linking theories with practices,
examining ideologies through our lives,
and our lives through revolutionary
ideas. We are not shopping in the market
of cultural differences”.
– Bannerji, Himani. 1993. “Returning the Gaze:An Introduction,” in
Returning the Gaze. Toronto: Sister Vision, p.xxix
© Sujata Warrier, 2013
23
In conclusion……
 “It seems utopian, but the world must
recover its capacity for dreaming and in
order to start, a new paradigm is
required…..”
Cecilia Lopez
7/20/2015
©Sujata Warrier, 2013
24