Cultural Ascriptions Displayed by Restraining Order Court Representatives: Implicating Patriarchy and Cultural Dominance

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzes cultural ascriptions about women plaintiffs that emerged in interview responses from court representatives in the context of a Restraining Order courtroom in a Midwestern city. The judges, attorneys and court advocates' responses categorized women plaintiffs through individual and intersecting group ascriptions related to sex, race, ethnicity, and class. The cultural ascriptions displayed by court representatives implicate systems of patriarchy and cultural dominance at work in the Restraining Order Courtroom.