Understanding Domestic Violence Against Muslim Women in China

Abstract

The abusive experiences of Hui Muslim women in China are understudied. Data from interviews with 14 women who lived in west China examine the dynamic nature of domestic violence they have experienced. The Hui women were vulnerable to the violence because of their low social status and minority ethnic identity. Under the oppressions, a fear of being ignored, discriminated, and marginalized resulted in the women’s tolerance or silence toward abuse. However, the Hui women are not only powerless but also resistant to violence. Their negotiation of the self under a social control and structural inequality reveals their autonomy and wisdom.