Exploring the Forms and Risk Factors of Domestic Violence from Afghan Immigrant Women’s Point of View in Finland

Migration, particularly forced migration, often heightens vulnerability to domestic violence (DV) due to a complex interplay of cultural, structural, and migration-related stressors. While Finland is recognized for its high standards of gender equality, it also reports high rates of domestic violence against women (DVAW), with a gap in research focusing specifically on the perceptions of Afghan immigrant women. To address this gap, this qualitative study investigates how Afghan immigrant women in Finland conceptualize DV and identify its underlying drivers. Utilizing a transnational intersectional framework, the research examines how multiple, overlapping identities, such as ethnicity, religion, and migration status, shape understandings of violence across borders. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with 13 Afghan women residing in Finland to explore their understandings of DVAW and its associated risk factors. The findings reveal a multilayered understanding of violence that extends beyond the individual to familial and communal levels. Key themes include physical and emotional violence, characterized by physical assault, blaming women, and neglect. Economic abuse and coercive control were manifested through denied financial autonomy, interference of in-law families, and forced marriage. Sexual violence was defined by the unimportance of women's desires and a lack of discretion in matters related to pregnancy. Risk factors were attributed to individual and family factors, such as women's behavior and the influence of men and family, as well as communal and societal factors, including culture, community, religion, and the psychological legacy of war. The study highlights a gap in violence-preventing social work, showing that a "fear of the system" often prevents women from seeking help and accessing support service. To address these barriers, the research suggests that integration policies and social work practices must evolve from purely interventionist models to culturally sensitive, trust-based approaches that prioritize the dissemination of rights-based information in native languages and engage community leaders in prevention efforts.