Books about DV in the SA community

A few weeks ago, we rounded up some video resources about DV in the SA community. For readers who would like to develop a more in-depth understanding of the issue, here’s a round-up of books about the topic. The following books have been written, collected, and edited by noted figures in the SA community working towards ending DV. The brief descriptions of each book do not exhaustively detail their contents; each description only includes the book’s unique contribution to the discussion. [Clicking on any of the links will lead you to the book's Amazon page]



Margaret Abraham is a prominent writer about DV issues in the SA community, and we’ve discussed her work on this blog several times. Her book covers a range of topics – women’s experiences of DV, barriers to assistance, the rise of South Asian Women’s Organizations, and SA activism. Abraham attempts to place survivor stories within larger social and cultural contexts.



This collection of essays was edited by Shamita Das Dasgupta, an activist well known in south Asian DV circles (we’ve discussed her work previously on this blog). Some of the included topics are the denial of DV in the SA community, expectations about women’s roles and sexuality, and a description of how legal and immigration systems can hinder the ability of a woman to leave an abusive marriage.



This resource-rich anthology, edited by Sandhya Nankani, brings together the voices of community activists, scholars, artists, and survivors. Reviewers suggest that the book adds greatly to our “understanding of prevention, treatment, research, and advocacy issues” with respect to DV, and laud the inclusion of art and poetry.



The authors of this book attempt to go beyond the cases that make headlines – forced marriages, honor killings – and explore the roots of gendered violence in SA communities. They focus specifically on the importance of religion and culture, and draw together debates in research, policy, and practice, with an eye toward policy recommendations.

We'll stop here for now, but there's more to come next week!