Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A Word of Thanks...
On behalf of the Peace Bridges team, we want to thank David and Holly Ketchum and Mrs. Ma Somethea for this excellent and informative report. We are also sincerely grateful to the four anonymous graduates of our training who were willing to openly discuss the joys and challenges of family life. The insights of these women and men provided our team with a unique opportunity to understand more about family life in Cambodia, critically reflect on our practices and begin to understand how Peace Bridges can positively impact upon families into the future. For too many people, the family is a place of abuse and fear rather than a safe place of belonging. Our hope is that this small research project will be a useful resource for the many Cambodian women and men committed to the challenge of building peace and resilience in families. Peace Bridges welcomes feedback and constructive criticism of this report. We recognize this report is but a small insight into family life here, yet hope all readers find something helpful. Yours sincerely,
For too many people, the family is a place of abuse and fear rather than a safe place of belonging.
For more information, please contact Peace Bridges #73 Street 608 Toul Kork * Phnom Penh * P.O Box 1523 * office: 023 880 100 * e-mail: admin@peacebridges.net * http://peacebridges.blogspot.com/
Table of Contents
Part 1: Why did Peace Bridges Research Family Conflict? Part 2: How did Peace Bridges Conduct the Case Study? Part 3: What Were the Key Theoretical Assumptions? 1. 2. 3. 4. Definitions of Domestic Violence from Cambodian Law Types of Family Violence Social Indicators Qualities of Healthy Families 8 2 4 6
Part 4: What Did Peace Bridges Discover? 1. The Experience of Family Conflict The Importance of Empathy for Self and Others Gender Stereotypes & Expressing Vulnerability 2. Supporting Healthy Family Practices Respecting & Valuing One Another Parenting that Nurtures, Protects & Guides Adapting to Change Solving Problems Peacefully 3. Identifying Continuing Needs Identifying & Understanding Aggravating Factors Providing More Opportunities to Apply and Practice Understanding the Limitations of Empathy Part 5: Program Implications Selected Bibliography About Peace Bridges Peaceful Families Program
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In the process of providing conflict counseling and mediation training, Peace Bridges heard consistent requests for more resources that help transform family conflict and violence. We also learned that the training Peace Bridges offered had significantly impacted peacebuilder perceptions of family conflict and their ability to engage it, and that some peacebuilders were now teaching these skills to other families in their communities. These stories and requests combined with Peace Bridges own growing awareness of how family violence is a concern in Cambodia and the focus of various studies and programs. We were also concerned with recent studies that showed that, despite an increase in resources, violence in Cambodian families continued at significant rates.
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designing and implementing peace programming relevant to healing violent families and building peaceful families in Cambodia
Our research was guided by the following question: How has the Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills and Habits (KASH) taught in the Conflict Counseling and Mediation Training (CCMT) better equipped participants to transform family conflict? And was designed to meet four objectives: Objective 1. Identify the context and type of family conflict that community peacebuilders have experienced. Objective 2. Identify and explore which KASH (Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, and Habits) from CCMT have been useful to community peacebuilders in transforming family conflict. Objective 3. Explore what skills/strategies peacebuilder families are actually implementing during their conflicts. Objective 4. Identify continued needs for peacebuilder families for building healthy family systems and transforming family conflict. We chose to conduct a holistic, multiple case study. Our data sources included: interviews and role plays with four graduates of the CCMT course (2 men, 2 women; 2 from Phnom Penh, 2 from the provinces); focus group discussions with select members of Peace Bridges staff; a Rapid Assessment Survey of peacebuilders and partner organizations; Conflict Counseling and Mediation Training Lesson Plans, and Peace Bridges' 2009 External Evaluation.
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Each case participated in an in-depth, semi-structured interview and accompanying role play that was followed by a focus group discussion of the data. In-depth interviews were conducted by teams of two Peace Bridges staff members (women with women and men with men). Interviews were recorded and interviewers completed narrative reports. Following interviews, each case also participated in a role play. These role plays were designed by Peace Bridges staff to reflect culturally relevant conflict scenarios. Each role play was video recorded. The final stage of data collection utilized focus group discussions. Each case interview and role play was reviewed by the focus group and their reflections were recorded. Our intention was to gain the insight of those familiar with Cambodian culture and CCMT to identify and clarify the skills and strategies actually being implemented by participants during family conflict, as well as the continued challenges for cultivating peace.
Data was analyzed using: 1) relevant theoretical propositions, 2) pattern matching and 3) cross-case analysis. As the data was compiled, each case was analyzed using the theories that had initially led to the study. We then looked for patterns within the case while comparing the empirically based pattern (i.e., the experience of the participant in engaging family conflict) with the predicted one. In this case, our prediction was that the peace education provided in CCMT also helped to cultivate healthy family systems, so we looked for patterns that demonstrated how and why (or how not and why not) CCMT KASH was useful in the family context. Finally, the cases were compared in order to modify our theory and develop policy implications. In this final stage of the analysis, we looked for larger patterns of both the usefulness and limitations of CCMT KASH in transforming family conflict.
"Acts affecting life; Acts affecting physical integrity; Torture or cruel acts; Harassment causing mental/psychological, intellectual harm; Mental/psychological and physical harm exceeding morality and the boundaries of the law; Sexual aggression (including violent sex, sexual harassment and indecent exposure); Threats aiming at frightening, shocking; and Acts affecting individuality and property." (CAMBOW 2007: 8)
Coercive Controlling Violence: indicated by controlling patterns, and includes such patterns as "intimidation; emotional abuse; isolation; minimizing, denying, and blaming; use of children; asserting male privilege; economic abuse; and coercion and threats" Violent Resistance: violence that occurs as an act of resistance against inflicted violence. It can be done almost instinctively in the moment, or can be thought out ahead of time in response to frequent violence Separation Instigated Violence: violence that occurs when a couple with no prior history of violence chooses to separate.
The fourth category, Situational Couple Violence, was described in more detail by Kelly and Johnson (2008, 481-486). This violence is characterized as:
not based on a relationship dynamic of coercion and control ... and mostly arises from conflicts and arguments between partners gender symmetric not embedded in a relationship-wide pattern of power, coercion, and control result[ing] from situations or arguments between partners resulting from One or both partners [having] poor ability to manage their conflicts and/or poor control of anger not accompanied by a chronic pattern of controlling, intimidating, or stalking behaviors
Typically, this type of violence occurs infrequently (Johnson 2006, 18), though it can become "chronic and severe, even homicidal" (3-4).
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oretical Assumptions?
3. Social Indicators
We also wanted to understand the social context of the participants families. Walker (1999, 21) identified factors that interact to determine this wider context: (1) gender [roles and stereotypes] (2) political structure (3) religious beliefs (4) attitudes toward violence in general (5) [attitudes toward] violence toward women (6) state-sponsored violence, such as civil conflicts and wars, and (7) the migration within and between countries Within Cambodia, patriarchal societal structure; sexual taboos; the five-tiered political structure; certain religious beliefs (e.g., common perceptions of kamma); general attitudes regarding the acceptability of violence; and migration between neighboring countries are all significant factors that can contribute to prevalence of family violence and a sense of helplessness for its victims.
Because our theoretical assumptions provide the basis of our data analysis, it is important to name them here.
NOTE: In sharing results of an exploratory case study, it is important to note that generalizations reported in our Major Findings are the perceptions of participants and should not be assumed to be representative.
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Discover?
1. The Experience of Family Conflict
As stories were shared about the experience of family conflict, several patterns began to emerge. Chief among these were: the importance of empathy and the influence of gender roles and stereotypes.
All of the cases shared stories that revealed how gender stereotypes can impact family conflict. For example, a man's strength and power is often linked to his ability to earn the income for the family and a resultant expectation for the man to display this wealth. In one case, this social pressure provoked a disagreement over who was to handle money during travel I wanted to show others that, as a man, I earned the money to spend on my wife or family. Focus group discussions reflected on the stories each case told as it related to gender and noted important ideas. First, domestic duties are commonly associated with weakness, so that The man is very few times encouraged to have time with the children; he is the breadwinner and is seen to be tired after his work; if he returns home from work and sees the mess from the children, he can scold her (the wife) or even beat her and the community would see it as the wife's fault.
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Instead, the strong man may even be encouraged to be aloof from his family Most men here would say that there are three things a man should know, 1) women, 2) wine, and 3) gambling. For my situation, I don't participate in the parties in my neighborhood, so they say to me that I am not a pure man and that I have a woman's attitude - instead of being a man I like doing the housework. Finally, in one case a male peacebuilder felt like his conviction to be different and exhibit strength in nondominating ways negatively impacted his ability to be respected and listened to by others in the family. Similarly, both male and female cases expressed rigid roles for women, usually associated with managing finances and domestic duties. For example, one male remarked that Sometimes I recognize the nature of a lady as a person stricter on spending money. And a female remarked that ...it is the nature of a woman to see a cleaned and tidy house. I started to think as well about the differences between men and women. I rather reconciled with him so that the conflict of doing housework might be reduced. Focus group discussion also reflected on how parental roles are similarly affected by gender stereotypes. Consistent with the strong man image, mothers take a more prominent role in parenting. Since the baby is born, the mother is always closer to the children; a good father is still not as close as the wife. Even for the mother who is working and has the business, she still finds a way to be close to the children. These gender conceptions often had a strong relationship to family conflict. For example, a man may feel it is difficult to admit mistakes or seek reconciliation, or he may be perceived as weak if he does these things. As a man, I feel shame to talk to my wife first when we have a conflict. A man should not have a mistake. To let it go (i.e., not talk about the conflict) can be understood as an apology. To say it out loud is shameful for a man. Talking first shows his weakness, shows he has a mistake inside him....For the wife to point it out also makes him vulnerable. Then I understood that the nature of man being the husband in conflict is hardly to compromise to the wife.
Why Focus on Gender?
Although the data was analyzed using all seven of Walkers Social Indicators, the most significant patterns emerged while looking at gender issues. Gender roles appear to play a dominant part in family conflict and violence. Specifically, in these four cases, the men tended to experience a great deal of pressure to conform to socially reinforced images of masculinity, while the women tended to express needs for connection, respect, and being heard. However, this should not be taken to mean that the men felt no need for emotional connection and respect (they clearly did) or that women felt no societal pressures (they clearly did). Rather, gender stereotypes in Cambodia seem to reinforce these expectations and, in turn, influence how conflict is experienced by men and women.
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Adapting to Change
Flexibility in adapting to both internal and external demands of life was enhanced by lessons on emotional regulation, problem identification and analysis, forgiveness (of self and other), and a JudeoChristian theology of peace practice. One case commented that: Before taking the CCMT course, I had no way to solve the problem. If I had an argument with someone I might not talk to her or him and perhaps stop having a relationship with them at all.
Basic peace education is not sufficient in itself to address more complex family issues. However, it may be effectively integrated into programs addressing complex family issues and with great potential for enhancing the effectiveness of those programs.
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more practice in empathetic listening to understand the other's view and values; the role of gossip in escalating or provoking conflict; parenting issues (such as listening to your children to foster family intimacy).
For example, Perhaps we are not good listeners to the children. They rarely come to us and discuss their issues. Instead they go and tell their friends. I can see we haven't provided enough family intimacy, that's why our children run out to the others when they have a problem rather than coming to us. We sometimes blame each other for this reason.
Community Support
Another related issue was locating ongoing support within communities. Cases indicated that while they were part of larger social circles that could (and at times did) provide this needed support, these relationships were not always positive and supportive. Neighbors sometimes criticized one another (even to the point of predicting eventual marital failure/divorce) and neighborhood gossip about the family could initiate/escalate conflict situations. Additionally, in one family, relatives intervened to prevent divorce without also providing resources to help solve the conflicts/tensions that were fueling the desire for separation. Sometimes, I chose to divorce...but our elderly relatives always helped with the intervention and encouraged us not to get divorced. After being married, there were many criticisms from our neighborhood; they said we would not keep our marriage relationship for long and that we might get divorced someday because we were from a different family status. ... [My spouse] is always complaining and telling our neighbors about our problem. It doesn't help at all and sometimes it doubles our problem. I often argue with [my spouse] for this reason.
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Selected Bibliography
Family Conflict & Violence
Bennet, D; Sullivan, M; and Lewis, M. (2005) Young Children's Adjustment as a Function of Maltreatment, Shame, and Anger. Child Maltreatment 10(4); 311-323. Available online at: http:// cmx.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/10/4/311 The authors explore the relationship between shame, anger, and behavior problems. From the abstract: Shame, anger, age, and type of maltreatment appear to be important factors in explaining variance in behavioral adjustment following a history of maltreatment. Johnson, Michael P. (2006, November). A general theory of intimate partner violence: A working paper. Paper presented at the Theory Construction and Research Methodology Pre-Conference Workshop, National Council on Family Relations annual meeting. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Available online at: http://www.personal.psu.edu/mpj/2006%20TCRM.doc Kelly, Joan B. and Michael P. Johnson. (2008). Differentiation among types of intimate partner violence: Research update and implications for interventions. Family Court Review 46 (3), 476-499. Available online at: http://www.personal.psu.edu/mpj/2008%20FCR%20Kelly%20and%20Johnson.pdf From the abstract: A growing body of empirical research has demonstrated that intimate partner violence is not a unitary phenomenon and that types of domestic violence can be differentiated with respect to partner dynamics, context, and consequences. Four patterns of violence are described: Coercive Controlling Violence, Violent Resistance, Situational Couple Violence, and SeparationInstigated Violence. Kishor, Sunita and Kiersten Johnson. 2004. Profiling Domestic Violence A Multi-Country Study. Calverton, Maryland: ORC Macro. Available online at: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/OD31/OD31.pdf From the Executive Summary: This study uses household and individual-level data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program to examine the prevalence and correlates of domestic violence and the health consequences of domestic violence for women and their children. Nationally representative data from nine countriesCambodia (2000), Colombia (2000), the Dominican Republic (2002), Egypt (1995), Haiti (2000), India (1998-1999), Nicaragua (1998), Peru (2000), and Zambia (2001-2002)are analyzed within a comparative framework to provide a multifaceted analysis of the phenomenon of domestic violence. Perry, B.D. (1997) Incubated in Terror: Neurodevelopmental Factors in the Cycle of Violence. In Children, Youth and Violence: The Search for Solutions (J Osofsky, Ed.). Guilford Press, New York, pp 124-148. Available online from: http://www.childtrauma.org/CTAMATERIALS/incubated.asp Perry discusses the risks and impacts associated with child exposure to violence. Though over a decade old, this is still one of the most important articles for peacebuilders addressing family violence.
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Pinheiro, Paulo (2006). World Report on Violence Against Children. Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations. Available online from: http://www.unicef.org/violencestudy/3.%20World%20Report%20on% 20Violence%20against%20Children.pdf The author includes reports on violence against children in a variety of contexts, including families and schools. He discusses violence against children as a threat to global development. Saguy, T., Tausch, N., Dovidio, J. and Pratto, F. (2009) The Irony of Harmony: Intergroup Contact Can Produce False Expectations for Equality." Psychological Science 20:1, 114-121. Online publication date: 1-Feb-2009. Tsang, J. and Stanford, M. (2006) Forgiveness for intimate partner violence: The influence of victim and offender variables, Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 653-664 Retrieved 12 January 2008 from: http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/35618.pdf From the abstract: In women, empathy and general religiousness positively related to forgiveness, but attributions of blame were unrelated to forgiveness. Several dispositional variables in men were associated with forgiveness in women. Men who were more dominant were more likely to be forgiven, but men with more psychological problems were less likely to be forgiven. Many offender effects were mediated by womens state empathy. These trends have important implications for peacebuilding, especially those involving forgiveness and reconciliation. Walker, Lenore (January 1999). Psychology and Domestic Violence Around the World. American Psychologist. January 1999; 54, 1; 21-29. Retrieved 28 February from: http://www.ugr.es/~prodopsi/ sitioarchivos/Archivos/Walker%201999.pdf Walker discusses the progress of and challenges faced when implementing domestic violence services in contexts outside of North America. Topics include: human rights, legal systems, public health approaches, and sociocultural factors.
In Cambodia, continued
Ketchum, David and Holly Ketchum (2008). Understanding Family Violence in Cambodia: A Background Study (Phnom Penh: Peace Bridges). Available at: http://sites.google.com/site/ peacebridgesresources/Home/UnderstandingFamilyViolenceAugust2008.pdf?attredirects=0 This literature review is divided into 2 sections. The first looks at literature from a (mainly) North American perspective with an eye to relevance to the Southeast Asian context. The second reviews literature from Cambodia. It also includes good bibliographies with lots of links to online documents. It was written for Peace Bridges and includes program recommendations. Lim, Jo-Ann. (2009 June) Out of Court Resolutions of Violence Against Women: Practices and Issues in Cambodia. DanChurchAid. Available online at: http://www.danchurchaid.org/where_we_work/ asia/cambodia/read_more/new_report_women_are_trapped_in_violent_marriages This very timely and important study includes a focus on reconciliation processes, including: 1) [W]hether or not a community has been provided with a strong NGO presence or given training on domestic violence and relevant issues does not appear to impact on the resolution process itself. Cultural norms that emphasise the importance of the family, reconciliation and the shame of divorce continue to mould resolution processes in every community. 2) Authorities main method for resolving domestic violence cases involves meeting both parties, educating the parties not to commit violence and reconciling the couple so that they would not divorce. And 3) Authorities continue to perpetuate cultural stereotypes that force a woman to submit to her husband. ... Traditional attitudes and cultural norms that discriminate against women on the basis of female inferiority and male superiority, prioritize the needs of the family and the familys reputation over the needs of the survivor and of her safety. Nelson & Zimmerman (1996). Household Survey on Domestic Violence in Cambodia. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Ministry of Womens Affairs and Project Against Domestic Violence. Zimmerman, Cathy. (1994) Plates in a Basket Will Rattle: Domestic Violence in Cambodia. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Project Against Domestic Violence (PADV). These two studies were foundational for the development of family violence interventions in Cambodia. Plates in a Basket is a collection of case studies illustrating the nature and impact of violence on specific members of the community. Household Survey was the first attempt to document the prevalence of family violence in present-day Cambodia.
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Research Methodology
The following resources provide an introduction to case study research methodology. Baxter, Pamela and Jack, Susan. (2008, December) "Qualitative Case Study Methodology: Study Design and Implementation for Novice Researchers." The Qualitative Report 13:4, 544-559. Available online at: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR13-4/baxter.pdf Tellis, Winston. (1997, July). "Introduction to Case Study." The Qualitative Report. 3:2. Available at: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-2/tellis1.html Tellis. Winston. (1997, September). "Application of a case study methodology." The Qualitative Report, 3:3. Available at: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-3/tellis2.html Yin, Robert. (1989) Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Sage: Newbury Park, CA. The following document is also very useful for anyone interested in conducting or understanding research investigating family and gender-based violence. Ellsberg, Mary and Heise, Lori. Researching Violence Against Women: A Practical Guide for Researchers and Activists. Washington DC, United States: World Health Organization, PATH; 2005. Available at: http://www.path.org/files/GBV_rvaw_front.pdf This is a very helpful document, including for practitioners not conducting research but who would like to understand research methodologies and domestic violence materials better. It includes a very good appendix pointing practitioners to important web resources in a variety of domains (e.g., media, health sector, community programs, etc.).
background and rationale research methodology and data sources literature review in-depth discussion of major findings The full report is available from Peace Bridges or online at: http://pbresources.blogspot.com/2009/11/case-study-reports.html
Our weblog also includes related documents in the Peace Resources section: http://peacebridges.blogspot.com
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Peace Bridges was formed in response to the recommendations of the Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodias Task Force on Peace and Conflict. Originally conceived to help pastors and churches provide mediation and conciliation services, Peace Bridges vision has deepened and expanded over the last six years. We have now provided long-term training and partnership/mobilization services to over 100 community peacebuilders. Our partnership projects include peace education in prisons, schools, churches, NGOs, and other community organizations. Partnership with Peace Bridges is a commitment that extends from: 1) identification of partners and relationship-building for mutual trust and benefit; 2) selection and training of key peacebuilders from partner organizations, including commitment by partners to peace programming; 3) mobilization and continued support from Peace Bridges staff to help tailor peace programs to partner-specific contexts and provide resources and co-trainers.
** For more information, please contact Peace Bridges, Or refer to the Project Proposal and other documentation. Available online at: http://peacebridges.blogspot.com **
6 units (3.5 days per unit) of training A focus on skills and issues relevant to family reconciliation A design that follows a general model of reconciliation (see the figure below for unit topics)
Because reconciliation is rarely a linear or sequential event, each unit is focused on a particular part of the process and the relevant knowledge, attitudes, skills and habits needed to support families. Unit 6 will be an extended (5 day) unit that includes training in Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation of peace programming. As in our other programming, Peace Bridges staff will then support graduates in developing and implementing family peace education training and services in their own circles of influence, as well as continue to build staff capacity (relevant to family conflict/violence) and partnerships. Future program directions may include: men's support groups, women's support groups, premarital counseling training, and family mediation training.
Peace Bridges provides training and services to community peacebuilders to engage conflict in constructive and creative ways.
For more information, please contact Peace Bridges #73 Street 608 Toul Kork * Phnom Penh * P.O Box 1523 * office: 023 880 100 * e-mail: admin@peacebridges.net * http://peacebridges.blogspot.com/
SPECIAL THANKS: We would like to offer thanks to the community peacebuilders and Peace Bridges staff who participated in the case study research, with the hope of a peaceful future for all our families. PHOTO CREDITS: Kathy Amstutz: Front Cover: #1, 3, 5, 6; Pages: 4-5, 6-7, 8, 10, 16 David Ketchum: Front Cover: #2, 4, 7; Pages: 2, 12, 14 Ethics & Confidentiality: Community peacebuilders who participated in the case study research are not named in the summary or full report and are not shown in photographs. Quotations in the body of the report do not reveal personal details.