Exploring West African Immigrant Women's Experience and Perception about Domestic Violence and Related Supports in Alberta, Canada

Adebayo, Oluwakemi

Exploring West African Immigrant Women's Experience and Perception about Domestic Violence and Related Supports in Alberta, Canada

dc.contributor.advisor	Archer-Kuhn, Beth
dc.contributor.author	Adebayo, Oluwakemi
dc.contributor.committeemember	Warria, Ajwang'
dc.contributor.committeemember	Letourneau, Nicole
dc.contributor.committeemember	Gulbrandsen, Carolyn
dc.date	2025-06
dc.date.accessioned	2025-02-13T15:36:05Z
dc.date.available	2025-02-13T15:36:05Z
dc.date.issued	2025-01-31
dc.description.abstract	Domestic or intimate partner violence among African immigrant populations in Western communities, particularly Canada, remains an overlooked public health issue. African immigrant women face compounded challenges, including social isolation, language barriers, unemployment, financial dependence, and legal obstacles, increasing their vulnerability to abuse. With the rise in scholarship exploring the incidence and prevalence of domestic violence, the specific experiences of African immigrant women remain underexplored. This qualitative study investigates West African immigrant women's perceptions and experiences of domestic violence in Alberta, Canada, focusing on definitions, coping strategies, and the influence of patriarchy, culture, and immigration on their responses to violence. Using a Radical feminist, intersectional and Gender Relations Theory in the African Context, the study examines the ways in which power and resources are distributed between men and women in society, while also acknowledging how the power imbalances compounded by culture, patriarchal ideologies, structure, racial, and immigration factors, shape these women's vulnerability to partner violence. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with six participants reveals that domestic violence is often defined as extreme, life-threatening incidents, with most non-physical violence under-recognized. Culturally influenced coping strategies and preferences for informal support services were common. The study underscores the need for culturally responsive interventions and policies to better support African immigrant women in abusive situations. This research aims to inform practitioners, policymakers, and agencies working with West African immigrant women, highlighting the importance of understanding these women’s unique experiences. The goal is to foster the development of culturally responsive programs and services that address the complexities of domestic violence among this population.
dc.identifier.citation	Adebayo, O. (2025). Exploring west African immigrant women's experience and perception about domestic violence and related supports in Alberta, Canada (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/120775
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	domestic violence
dc.subject	intimate partner violence
dc.subject	partner violence
dc.subject	wife beating
dc.subject	African immigrant women
dc.subject	Black African immigrant
dc.subject	Spousal violence
dc.subject	Family violence
dc.subject.classification	Social Work
dc.subject.classification	Public Health
dc.subject.classification	Literature--African
dc.subject.classification	Gender Studies
dc.subject.classification	Women's Studies
dc.title	Exploring West African Immigrant Women's Experience and Perception about Domestic Violence and Related Supports in Alberta, Canada
dc.type	master thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Social Work
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Master of Social Work (MSW)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.