Journal international sur la santé mentale d'urgence et la résilience humaine

Abstrait

Intimate Partner Violence and Divorce among Ethiopian immigrants to Israel ? A pathway to empowerment

Lea Itzik, Arnon Edelstein

Divorce has become a worldwide phenomenon, witnessing increasing rates over recent decades. It is essential to expand the literature relating to the phenomenon among immigrant women. Ethiopian immigrants in Israel are a unique community, embodying significant cultural differences. Immigration has increased the rates of intimate partner violence and femicide in the Ethiopian community. The current theoretical article explains the reasons for the high divorce rates among Ethiopian women in Israel, and how these rates can be related to intimate partner violence. The main conclusion reached is that immigrant Ethiopian women are seeking a better life following divorce since they perceive veteran Israeli women as role models, learning from them that they are entitled to live without violent partner abuse. It is therefore essential to establish ties between immigrant Ethiopian women and veteran Israeli women who can act as mentors to familiarize the immigrants with the host society’s norms and customs.