IRTT factor F24 · Identity and community
Cultural Considerations
Culture refers to the shared practices, traditions, values and social norms within a community, which shape expectations around family roles, gender, honour, shame and belonging.
The factor
Culture and religion are often discussed together, so the IRTT assesses them as separate factors to identify the unique risks and strengths each one brings.
Effect on risk
Culture can be a protective factor that offers identity, resilience and belonging, and it can be weaponised to restrict autonomy, enforce silence or discourage help-seeking.
Honour, shame and family reputation may be used to prevent disclosure, and so-called honour-based violence and abuse can involve the wider family and community.
In 2025 the Forced Marriage Unit assisted 406 cases, and 40% involved victims aged 17 and under.
Imkaan and the Centre for Women's Justice found that police racism and racial stereotyping deterred Black and minoritised women from reporting abuse.
Cultural or religious motives are never accepted as a justification for abuse, and cultural sensitivity does not delay protective action.
Relatives, friends and community leaders are never used as interpreters, mediators or advocates where so-called honour-based violence and abuse is a concern.
Offer a referral to a by-and-for service for Black and minoritised women, where the survivor wants one.
Questions for practice
- How do cultural norms, expectations or community structures feature in this situation, both as barriers to safety and as sources of strength?
- Which parts of their culture and community does the survivor want to protect and keep, and how can the safety plan respect those choices?
- Are honour, shame or family reputation being used to silence the survivor, and is anyone in the wider family involved in the abuse?
- Has the survivor met racism or cultural stereotyping from services before, and how might that experience shape what they feel able to tell you?
Using the IRTT
Cultural Considerations is factor F24 in the Intersectional Risk Tracker Tool, which assesses it alongside forty other intersectional risk factors.
Our session on culture and domestic abuse risk on Wednesday 14 April 2027 explores this factor through case study discussion with other practitioners.
Further reading
Related factors
Sources