Domestic Violence Through a Caribbean Lens: Historical Context, Theories, Risks and Consequences

ABSTRACT

Studies show that increasing and escalating rates of violence prominently exist among Caribbean family and intimate relationships. As known to many, the social and cultural norms that underscore gendered disparities within Caribbean societies disproportionately increases the risk of violence for women and children. With general knowledge surrounding these issues within Caribbean communities and across its Diaspora, the scientific literature lacks critical in-depth analysis of the risks and consequences of violence, along with important steps in curbing this social and public health concern that continues to impact the lives and well-being of individuals who experience higher than usual victimization rates. This manuscript highlights historical perspectives, theories, prevalence, risks and consequences of violence among Caribbean descendants. The article further proposes recommendations for prevention and intervention measures that might be useful in addressing the escalating rate of violence within the family and relationship contexts.

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic violence
• Caribbean communities
• risks and consequences

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Oliver Williams for his support of this manuscript.

Disclosure of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Standards and Informed Consent

Human subjects were not involved in this article. An institutional review oversight was not required.