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An ethnographic study of domestic violence and divorce in Uzbekistan: what is more important, to be free or to be alive?

Martinez, Kerstin LU (2017) RÄSM02 20171
Department of Sociology of Law
Abstract
The aim of this paper has been to provide a socio-legal analysis of domestic violence and divorce in secular Uzbekistan. The legislation express that men and women are equal to the law, that any kind of discrimination is forbidden and judicial divorce is possible. However, domestic violence is socially accepted through social norms and traditions while to seek divorce is viewed as a shameful act. Hence, a legal culture exists on the side of Uzbek legislation. In an effort to find the reason behind the persistence and continued prevalence of domestic violence two theories have been used, Ehrlich’s living law and dominance theory. Ethnographic field research has been conducted in the city of Tashkent as well as in the Ferghana region, both... (More)
The aim of this paper has been to provide a socio-legal analysis of domestic violence and divorce in secular Uzbekistan. The legislation express that men and women are equal to the law, that any kind of discrimination is forbidden and judicial divorce is possible. However, domestic violence is socially accepted through social norms and traditions while to seek divorce is viewed as a shameful act. Hence, a legal culture exists on the side of Uzbek legislation. In an effort to find the reason behind the persistence and continued prevalence of domestic violence two theories have been used, Ehrlich’s living law and dominance theory. Ethnographic field research has been conducted in the city of Tashkent as well as in the Ferghana region, both situated in Uzbekistan, between January to April 2017. My results can be summarized in three main points: (a) victims of domestic violence are aware of their legal rights but prefer to follow the established legal culture instead of seeking legal justice, (b) experiences of domestic violence does not lead to divorce application, (c) Islam is used by formal and informal social structures to justify violence against women and shame the same from seeking divorce. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Martinez, Kerstin LU
supervisor
organization
course
RÄSM02 20171
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
divorce, domestic violence, dominance theory, equality, ethnography, gender equality, hybrid society, legal culture, legal feminist theory, living law, mahalla, Uzbekistan, violence against women
language
English
id
8911340
date added to LUP
2017-06-15 11:34:25
date last changed
2017-06-15 11:34:25
@misc{8911340,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this paper has been to provide a socio-legal analysis of domestic violence and divorce in secular Uzbekistan. The legislation express that men and women are equal to the law, that any kind of discrimination is forbidden and judicial divorce is possible. However, domestic violence is socially accepted through social norms and traditions while to seek divorce is viewed as a shameful act. Hence, a legal culture exists on the side of Uzbek legislation. In an effort to find the reason behind the persistence and continued prevalence of domestic violence two theories have been used, Ehrlich’s living law and dominance theory. Ethnographic field research has been conducted in the city of Tashkent as well as in the Ferghana region, both situated in Uzbekistan, between January to April 2017. My results can be summarized in three main points: (a) victims of domestic violence are aware of their legal rights but prefer to follow the established legal culture instead of seeking legal justice, (b) experiences of domestic violence does not lead to divorce application, (c) Islam is used by formal and informal social structures to justify violence against women and shame the same from seeking divorce.}},
  author       = {{Martinez, Kerstin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{An ethnographic study of domestic violence and divorce in Uzbekistan: what is more important, to be free or to be alive?}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}