Broken dreams of a better life in Sweden: Thai women’s lived experiences of intimate partner violence by Swedish men in international marriages

Figures & data

Table 1. Sociodemographic data of the 18 Thai immigrant women who reported experiences of domestic violence in Sweden, 2016.

Sociodemographic characteristics			N = 18	Mean years
Age at the interview			35–68	52
Age upon arrival in Sweden			23–50	33
Length of time living in Sweden			6–43	19
Region of origin in Thailand*		Northeastern (Isan)	9
		North	1
		South	1
		Central	7
Marital status		Cohabiting	8
		Living apart	5
		Divorced	5
Children
	Thai women who have children		16
	Thai women who have no children		2
Number of children
	Thai children		13
	Half Thai- half Swedish		10
Location where children currently reside
	Half Thai- half Swedish living in Sweden		10
	Thai children living in Thailand		7
	Thai children living in Sweden		6
Education
(1) Illiterate			3
(2) Primary school (6 years)			2
(3) High school (12 years)			2
(4) College (Courses at bachelor level)			5
(5) Bachelor’s degree			6

* Birth province/part of Thailand where the participants lived for a significant time

Table 2. Examples of content analysis: Thai immigrant women’s reported experiences of psychological violence from interviews in Sweden, 2016.

	Interview #1	Interview #2
Meaning units	We have been living together for seven years and have two sons, six and one-and-a-half years old. He was a great man in the beginning, but soon into the marriage I realized he was immature … he was [taking] fewer responsibilities […] playing [video] games, watching TV, or socializing with his friends but disliked cleaning or taking care of the kids… He liked to call his mother to help […] I was very stressed when he started a new job. He worked night shifts and sometimes in the early morning […] He complained about his job. He was annoyed and angry with everything. We quarrelled; he was mad and angry at the kids, shouting and saying bad words to us, throwing things on the floor […] I had warned that I might divorce him if he did not improve his behaviour	His income was less than mine, and we had many arguments when I visited my family or gave money to my family … he was jealous and never understood that in the Thai culture, we have to take care of family […] My ex-Swedish husband was lazy, lacked responsibility and enthusiasm and did not do anything (household chores). I did everything by myself. I climbed on the ladder to change lightbulbs, made repairs when the water did not flow […] I was tired and gave up on him. He never hit me, but he used evil words and hurt my feelings. […] Finally, I asked him for a divorce
Condensed meaning units	Swedish husband does not help with or take care of children; he just spends time on his own	Thai wife wants Swedish husband to help out in the household, understand Thai culture and share family responsibilities. Husband withdraws from responsibilities and quarrels
Codes	Married to a mum’s boy	Cultural differences
Subcategory	Family responsibilities
Category	Reliable housewife

Table 3. Thai imported wives’ experiences of domestic violence from interviews in Sweden, 2016.

Types of domestic violence	N = 18
Psychological violence (exclusively)	9
Physical and psychological violence	6
Physical, psychological and economic violence	1
Psychological and sexual violence	1
Psychological, economic and sexual violence	1

Table 4. Domestic violence as experienced by Thai immigrant women from interviews in Sweden, 2016.

Categories	Subcategories	Codes
Faithful and silent	Violence as a family issue	Violence as part of marriage
		Violence is normal
		Violent treatment as embarrassment
	Endure and be patient	Dust-up
		Drinking and using drugs
		Violent treatment
Reliable housewife	Family responsibilities	Married to a mum’s boy
	Engagement and consideration	Unequal relationship
		Giving without getting
Being replaced and losing dignity	Not good enough	Involved with other women
		Being asked for a divorce
	Homeless and heartless	Break-up feelings and mental problems
		Losing home, business and self-esteem
Broken dreams and deception	My children and others’ kids	Native Thai children
	Expectations of Mia farang	Swedish ex-wife and mother-in-law
		Exploitation; sex and housemaid