Culture, social discourse and domestic violence : what is the connection?

Men's violence against women is seen as a universal problem but there are societies in which it has been absent or infrequent. By focusing on a number of non-Western or indigenous societies, where domestic violence is not prevalent or is rare, this article seeks to investigate the influence of culture on domestic violence. It suggests that each culture has a body of information and knowledge about male violence according to the discourses it accepts and makes function as true, which determines the behavioural choices of its members and the way power and privilege are manifested. It concludes that further work which explores the interface of culture and social discourse is necessary to ensure that the spotlight remains on male violence and that the community at large collectively explore the way male violence is discussed and defined as a cultural and social discourse.