Attitudes toward family honor killing among Arab citizens of Israel: a sociological inquiry

This study endeavors to investigate the relationship between attitudes towards honor killings, gender, and three indicators gauging an individual’s affiliation with their surroundings, community, and culture: community coherence, place attachment, and cultural identification. Methods: A quantitative survey was conducted among 245 Arab-Israeli citizens (117 men and 128 women). Significant gender differences were found across the research variables, with men expressing more positive attitudes towards honor killing than women. Cultural identification was positively associated with attitudes towards honor killing, whereas community coherence and place attachment were not significantly associated with these attitudes. The regression model was significant, with gender, age, and cultural identification significantly predicting attitudes towards honor killing. The findings reinforce the conceptualisation of honor killing as a form of cultural violence upheld and legitimised by cultural codes and highlight the importance of addressing cultural norms in prevention efforts.