An overview of DV in the South Asian community

In 2000, the Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless published a special issue on the topic of DV in the South Asian community in the U.S. In the next few blog posts, we will discuss the articles that were included in this volume.

In the brief introduction, Sheehan, Javier and Thanjan (2000) argue that the generic term ‘South Asian’ does not fully capture the national, religious, cultural, economic, political, and historical variation that exists within the community. They find, nevertheless, that there are certain commonalities in the experiences of domestic violence that women in the South Asian community experience.

1. There is, generally, a lack of understanding about DV in this community. People who experience DV may not recognize it, and those who observe DV may be accustomed or insensitive to it, and not consider it something worth addressing. The authors point out that an indigenous term for ‘domestic violence’ does not even exist within most south Asian languages, making it very hard for community organizations to raise sensitivity to the issue.

2. There is a high level of secretiveness in the community. This not only makes it hard for abused women to seek help, but it also complicates the efforts of organizations trying to reach these women. The authors suggest that because women are socialized to put the needs of their family ahead of their own, and held responsible for maintaining harmony and minimizing conflict in the family, they may find it difficult to seek help; they may worry about their own safety and their family name.

3. There are legal complexities that make it hard for abused women to seek help. Specifically, many south Asian women in the country are often here as a ‘dependent’ on their husband’s visa; leaving the marriage leaves them legally stranded.

While these are certainly not the only factors that distinguish the South Asian community, those who work with victims of DV will surely nod their heads in agreement. The authors conclude with recommendations for community-based organizations and future reading.

[For more information, see: Sheehan, H. E., Javier, R. A., & Thanjan, T. (2000). Introduction to the Special Issue on Domestic Violence and the South Asian Community. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 9(3), 167-171.]