THE INFLUENCE OF MALAY CULTURE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES AMONG WOMEN IN PENANG

Abstract

Malay women in Malaysia are all subject to domestic violence crisis. It is very important to look at how culture may lead to domestic violence. This study focuses on the influence of Malay culture that can lead to domestic violence among women. A total of 15 Malay women victims of domestic violence (informants) were involved in this exploratory qualitative study. Informants were involved in in-depth interviews and data gathered were analyzed using NVIVO 8. The study findings have indicated that domestic violence stem from the various elements of cultural influence in the local Malay community, which indirectly form a perspective of gender inequality between the husbands and wives. Several suggestions from the social work intervention perspectives have been discussed in greater depth in order to reduce the issue of domestic violence among women in the country.