‘Suddenly she realizes that her husband is not exactly Rabbi Akiba …’ – perceptions of masculinity of ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jewish battering men

Abstract

The aim of the study reported in this article is to gain an understanding of the way in which haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Israeli Jewish batterers perceive and experience both their masculinity and their violent behaviour towards their wives. The study attempts to understand how the masculinity–intimate violence–culture relationship exists in the haredi community, which is both religious and patriarchal. This is a qualitative study and is based on 11 interviews with haredi men who behaved violently towards their spouses. Four central themes describe the characteristics of masculinity: two of which describe the man's principal roles – Torah study and providing for his family – and two that describe a man's ideal attributes – restraint and self-control, rationality and sagacity. Emerging from the interviewees' responses is the difficulty of realizing the male ideal as they presented it, and in this context violent behaviour is actually construed as a failure. In addition, the changes being undergone in women's status in the haredi society intensify the conflicts felt by the men regarding their male identity. The present study indicates the considerable importance of cultural and social factors in understanding intimate violence against women, especially with respect to gender shaping and identity.

Keywords:

• batterers
• ultra-religious Jews
• masculinity
• intimate violence
• identity