This article introduces seven practical cultural metaphors that illuminate how cross-cultural misunderstandings arise in family court and how judges, attorneys, and mental-health professionals can more accurately interpret parties’ conduct, communication, and motivations.
Drawing on decades of expert testimony and cultural-competency education, the author shows how metaphors such as the fish and the pond, the transparent backpack, the glass wall, the waterbed reaction, walking on eggshells, guiding a self-driving vehicle, and the tip of the iceberg reveal hidden cultural norms that shape parties’ expectations of marriage, divorce, child-rearing, and dispute resolution.
Through real-world examples from the meaning of Mahr in Iranian marriages to honor-based reactions to court orders, the article demonstrates how cultural assumptions influence testimony, consent, interpretation of silence, and responses to legal pressure. Each metaphor concludes with practice notes offering actionable guidance. The article provides a shared vocabulary for culturally informed judging, lawyering, and forensic evaluation, promoting fairness by encouraging deeper understanding of the cultural systems underlying family-law disputes.
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This article was previously published, and reproduced with permission.
Hadjian, Abbas. (2025, November 14). 7 Metaphors That Transform Family Law Practice. The Daily Journal.
https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/388541-7-metaphors-that-transform-family-law-practice