Honor Killings

Violence against women is common throughout the world. A cultural code of honor exists for women and men. Honor-related violence is most prevalent in Muslim countries. Internationally it involves immigrants, though the connections to religion may be spurious. It should be noted that men also are the targets of honor-related violence, but that women comprise the majority of victims.

Honor killing, the most severe of these acts, is precipitated by the woman transgressing cultural norms, which brings perceived social dishonor to the family. A cultural convention, a primary norm for behavior for women, is the maintenance of her virginity (e.g., purity), it is expected that she be “preserved” until marriage. Consequently, a woman's actions and behavior are very closely scrutinized not only by her family but ...