ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with specific characteristics of migrant groups within those broad descriptions. It discusses several cultural contexts, considering both continuity and differences between various groups. One of the cultural characteristics of several non-Western groups is the so-called "we-cultures", wherein other rules are observed than in most western families. In many cultures, corporal punishment is a customary procedure in the education process. Child abuse is an internationally acknowledged phenomenon, but, in every culture, there is a different understanding of what constitutes or defines child abuse. Malevolent violence against children is divided into four categories: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and negligence. Men are frequently just as sad because of the violence as the victim is. For the social worker, it is important to build a relationship with the perpetrator of the violence. In families wherein conflicts are resolved violently, it is usual to find that all members of the household become involved in some way or another.
