Cultural considerations in understanding control, coercion, and violence among Pakistani immigrant women in Western Australia

INTRODUCTION: This article examines the cultural meaning of control, coercion, and violence among married Pakistani women in Western Australia. There is a dearth of literature on Pakistani migrant populations in Australia despite their growing number and this study provides significant insight into migrant women’s perspectives on marriage, and how it relates to familial patriarchy and culturally acquired values and norms that impact on their behaviour. The article builds on the core argument of cultural wedding scripts (CWS, henceforth) explored in this research that emphasises marriage as a social institution founded on culturally prescribed norms, traditions and values demanding individuals’ conformity and instilling understanding informed by such scripts among the groups that shape how they respond to social realities. METHODS: This qualitative study involved face-to-face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 21 married Pakistani women who migrated to Western Australia (WA). Thematic analysis suggested by Braun and Clarke (2023) was employed for data analysis. Pseudonyms have been used for anonymity. FINDINGS: Our findings suggest that the more women conform to familial patriarchy, the less likely they are to face control, coercion, and violence in their marriages both in the home and host countries. CONCLUSIONS: A deeper understanding of familial patriarchy and cultural constructions of marital institutions among migrant communities can provide social workers and human service workers with knowledge of the cultural contexts of abuse, particularly the influence of internalised patriarchal norms, values and women’s submission and resistance.