Feminist Theory and Status Inconsistency Theory

It is argued that domestic violence in Asian immigrant communities in the United States, specifically Chinese immigrant families, should be viewed as a distinct social problem. By presenting it as a distinct social problem, we validate the life experiences of women of color. However, many social science theories come from an Anglo-Western or European perspective and do not capture the realities of ethnic minority groups. Therefore, the goal of this article is to examine feminist and status inconsistency theories and their application to domestic violence in Chinese immigrant families. Merits and limitations of each perspective are highlighted. Directions for future research are also highlighted.