UC Irvine

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a critical issue globally, with significant variations in its definition, recognition, and redress mechanisms across different cultural and socio-economic contexts. This dissertation, investigates how local communities in rural Michoacán, Mexico, perceive and address IPV, contrasting these local understandings with standardized global definitions provided by international organizations.

Through a combination of qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and community-engaged research, this study explores the socio-cultural dynamics that influence the recognition, naming, blaming, claiming, and redress processes associated with IPV. The research is grounded in theoretical frameworks such as social constructionism, vernacularization, and the dispute pyramid, which help illuminate the complexities of translating global norms into local practices.

Key findings reveal that while global definitions of IPV are present in rural Michoacán, they are often adapted or resisted based on local cultural norms, patriarchal values, pervasive community violence, and economic dependencies. This adaptation process highlights the importance of culturally sensitive and community-centered approaches to IPV intervention and policymaking. The study emphasizes that the pervasive violence in the community, along with patriarchal norms and deep poverty, leads to desensitization to violence in general, including IPV, rather than suggesting that the cultureitself is inherently more violent.

The dissertation underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of IPV that takes into account local realities and advocates for the development of interventions that are both effective and respectful of cultural contexts. By bridging the gap between global human rights frameworks and local cultural practices, this study contributes to the broader discourse on IPV and offers practical recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.