Korean Immigrant Women's Journey from Abused Wives to Self-Reliant Women

Abstract

This qualitative study examined Korean immigrant women's experience of marital abuse and post-divorce adjustment. This study aimed to explore the lives of Korean immigrant women who are underrepresented among minorities, to examine cultural and institutional factors which play key roles in Korean immigrant women's decision to leave abusive relationships, and to move beyond the general question of “Why do they stay?” to “How do they survive?” Korean immigrant women went through several stages from abused wives to self-reliant divorced women: premature marriage, marital dynamics and abuse, marital dissolution, and post-divorce adjustment.

KEYWORDS:

• Korean immigrant women
• marital abuse
• post-divorce adjustment
• qualitative methodology