Citation

Huisman KA. Violence Against Women 1996; 2(3): 260-283.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12295885

Abstract

This study examined the specific needs of Asian women who are battered, and explored the various structural and cultural constraints that inhibit these women from securing help from mainstream social service providers in the US. Data were gathered from interviews that were conducted with 18 Asian community activists and service providers throughout the US. The results showed that Asian women who were battered, particularly recently arrived immigrant and refugee women, have needs that differ markedly from most battered women in the general US population. The needs of the refugee women center on language issues, cultural issues, immigration issues, and structural issues. Moreover, there are several internal and external forces that work in tandem to keep the needs of Asian women from being formally included in the mainstream battered women's movement. The internal forces include cultural beliefs and practices, while the external forces include stereotype about Asians, such as the ¿model minority myth,¿ lack of funding for programs for battered Asian women, US immigration laws, the historical exclusion of women of color from the mainstream feminist movement in the US, and the prevalence of sexism and racism in the American society. Finally, recommendations for social providers to better meet these needs are provided.

Language: en