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Archives > Fall 1995 articles
Domestic Violence in Japan:
Building a Movement through Research Activities
David Gough
Mieko Yoshihama, MSW,LCSW
Department of Social Welfare, University of California, Los
Angeles
Prior to 1992 in Japan, men's violence against women in
intimate relationships (domestic violence) had been considered
largely as a personal, private problem, as opposed to a prevalent,
social problem, among researchers, practitioners, policy makers
and citizens alike. Nevertheless, a closer examination of
existing statistics on murder, divorce mediation and public
women's shelters suggests the contrary: One-fourth of female
murder victims were attacked by their male partner. Over one-third
of divorce mediation petitions filed by women annually are
due to their husband's physical violence, and each year one-third
of women who utilize public women's shelters throughout Japan
have fled from their abusive male partner.
DVARG and the Nationwide Survey on Domestic Violence
Concerned by the apparent lack of recognition of the seriousness
of domestic violence in Japan in spite of such statistics
suggesting its frequent occurrence, a group of Japanese women
researchers, practitioners and activists joined together in
1992 and organized the Domestic Violence Action and Research
Group (DVARG).
DVARG conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey on women's
experiences with domestic violence - one of the first studies
of domestic violence in Japan. The purpose of the study was
multi-fold:
- to examine and document Japanese women's experiences with
domestic violence,
- to provide a safe channel through which Japanese battered
women could speak out, and
- to raise awareness regarding domestic violence in Japan
through the media and community forums, introducing the
study and disseminating its findings.
Unlike most previous studies which focused on physical violence,
behavior-specific questions were used to examine women's experiences
with physical (9 types), emotional (14 types) and sexual (10
types) violence. The study also investigated the situational
context of, and women's responses to, an incident they considered
the most abusive.
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of various women's groups
and practitioners, as well as media outreach, over 4,500 copies
of the questionnaires were distributed throughout Japan. A
total of 796 women completed and returned the questionnaire.
Respondents encompassed a wide range of socio-demographic
characteristics: aged 20-80 (mean 43.5). Most were married
(69%) and working (full-time, 45% or part-time, 28%) at the
time of the survey. Over three fourths of the respondents
reported having experienced some form of violence by their
intimate male partners at some point in their lifetime.
Experiences with multiple types of violence were common:
352 women--over half of women reporting some form of violence--reported
having experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence.
Of the 796 respondents, approximately 60% reported physical
violence of varying degrees: e.g., from slapping to choking
to an assault with a deadly weapon (62 women had been hit
with an object, and 61, threatened or cut with a knife).
Japanese women experienced physical violence not only in
marital and cohabiting relationships, but also in dating and
post-separation contexts. Characteristics of abusive partners
cut across socio-economic or educational groupings. Physical
violence tended to be recurrent and often resulted in injury
(the average recovery period was 23.2 days excluding permanent
injury). Approximately three fourths of women who had experienced
physical violence sought outside help. Nonetheless, only a
minority (34%) sought assistance from formal sources such
as the police, family court and public social services.
Many of those who utilized these formal assistance programs
reported their negative experiences with them. Often, their
cries for help were met with responses deeply rooted in patriarchal
ideology. The police were reluctant to respond to what they
considered a "domestic, private matter," or even if they did,
they would reprimand the women for calling the police. Mediators,
appointed by family courts, tended to minimize the severity
of domestic violence and often failed to acknowledge that
the husband's violence made the continuation of marriage difficult.
They, instead, emphasized the importance of maintaining family
harmony and often made remarks such as "your children need
their father," "it is wrong to deprive your children of their
father," "your husband seems to be a gentleman," and "try
harder to be a better wife and mother."
Emotional violence, reported by 66% of women, included the
partner's restricting women's social activities, verbal abuse
and verbal abuse and verbal threats of violence.
Sexual violence was reported by approximately 60% of the
respondents. Forced sexual contact was very common. Nearly
half of the study respondents reported having been forced
to have intercourse by their partner: sometimes, their partner
used physical force in coercing the respondent to have sex.
In addition, the partner's refusal to use contraceptives was
perceived by many respondents as a form of abuse (reported
by 143 women). Due to current Japanese drug regulations which
limit access to oral contraceptive pills, men's refusal to
use condoms place Japanese women at risk of unwanted pregnancy.
One woman reported having nine abortions in her lifetime,
all because of her husband's refusal to use contraception.
Recent and Future Efforts
This nationwide study not only dispelled the myth that domestic
violence is uncommon in Japan, but also prompted public and
private efforts against domestic violence (e.g., telephone
counselling by local bar associations).
The DVARG has also joined growing international efforts
against domestic violence through participation in the NGO
(non-governmental organizations) Forum at the World Conference
on Human Rights (Vienna, June, 1993), the Asian and Pacific
Symposium of NGOs on Women in Development (Manila, November,
1993) and the NGO Forum at the World Conference on Women (Beijing,
September, 1995). At these United Nations-sponsored meetings
which focused on women's rights, DVARG alerted delegations
from around the world of the prevalence of, and the lack of
governmental response to, domestic violence in Japan.
On July 11, 1995, the District Court in Nagoya, Japan decided
not to impose punishment on a 46-year-old woman convicted
for murdering her abusive husband. Prior to this case in Japan,
there was no precedence in which men's repetitive violence
was considered as cumulative provocation in murder. Supporters
of the defendant felt that the courts needed to be educated
on the serious, life threatening nature of husbands' violence
and the multitudes of difficulties faced by battered women
in fleeing from abusive relationships in a male-dominated
society.
The results of recent studies such as the one by DVARG and
articles written by DVARG members were submitted as evidence
for the woman's defense in the trial (one DVARG member testified
as an expert witness in the trial as well). Supporters of
the defendant had hoped for her acquittal on the grounds of
justifiable homicide. Instead, she was found guilty of using
excessive force; however, in sparing her from any punishment,
the court acknowledged and empathized with the cumulative
suffering which had driven her to the crime of which she was
found guilty.
There is still a long way to go in reshaping public attitudes
towards, and socio-legal responses to, domestic violence in
Japan and around the world. Nonetheless, the research by DVARG--meant
to be an action-oriented research--seems to have made a small
but significant advance.
For more information regarding DVARG and its research and
advocacy activities, please contact:
Mieko Yoshihama, MSW,LCSW at the Department of Social
Welfare, University of California, Los Angeles,
Box 951452, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1452
(310) 825-6493, or icnwyos@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
(e-mail).
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