What's Culture Got to Do with It?: Physical Punishment and Child Physical Abuse Among Black African Families in the UK and Its Implications for Social Work Practise

Distinguishing physical punishment from child physical abuse is considered one of the most contentious issues among Child Protection practitioners in the UK. This becomes even more complex when it is associated with culture and parenting practices. In most Black African and other Minority Communities, physical punishment is considered an integral part of parenting. Most parents using such method are often unsure of the extent to which physical punishment of children becomes unlawful and how far does such a law mitigate against their culture and parenting practices. This small-scale study attempted to explore these dilemas and to try to understand the attitudes and experiences of african prents in using physical punishment as a parenting method. The study also oulined the current UK legislation and the emerging debates among child protection practitioners and pro- parent organisations. The study concludes by drawing out the relevant implications for Social Workers practise from an intercultural Learning perspective.