Somali communities

In the Somali culture perceptions of domestic violence are limited to physical violence. This includes all interfamilial violence (Pan et al., 2006).

Somali women are responsible for maintaining harmony within the family by respecting and supporting their husband, obeying his wishes, and not angering him.

Somalis are Muslims, and Islamic traditions are cited as a means of reducing tension in families and, as a means of reducing the incidence of domestic violence.

In addition to Islamic traditions, family members and community elders are frequently used to resolve conflict between spouses. Traditionally, the wife would consult with the men in her family and then the men would talk to the husband. However, many Somali women in settlement societies do not have access to this type of family support.