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What
is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence is a pattern of
abusive behavior which keeps one partner
in a position of power over the other
partner through the use of fear,
intimidation and control. Some examples
of abuse include:
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PHYSICAL
ABUSE: Grabbing, pinching,
shoving, slapping, hitting, hair
pulling, biting, etc. Denying
medical care or forcing alcohol
and/or drug use.
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SEXUAL
ABUSE: Coercing or attempting to
coerce any sexual contact without
consent, e.g., marital rape,
forcing sex after physical
beating, attacks on sexual parts
of the body or treating another in
a sexually demeaning manner.
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ECONOMIC
ABUSE: Making or attempting to
make a person financially
dependent, e.g., maintaining total
control over financial resources,
withholding access to money,
forbidding attendance at school or
employment.
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EMOTIONAL/
PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE: Undermining a
person's sense of self-worth,
e.g., constant criticism,
belittling one's abilities, name
calling, damaging a partner's
relationship with the children.
Causing fear by intimidation,
threatening physical harm to self,
partner or children, destruction
of pets and property, mind games
or forcing isolation from friends,
family, school and/or work.
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Who
is the Victim?
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Victims
can be of any age, sex, race,
culture, religion, education,
employment or marital status.
Although both men and women can be
abused, most victims are women.
Children in homes where there is
domestic violence are more likely
to be abused and/or neglected.
Most children in these homes know
about the violence. Even if a
child is not physically harmed,
they may have emotional and
behavior problems.
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If
the abuse is so bad, why do women
stay in these relationships?
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A
battered woman frequently
faces the most physical
danger when she attempts to
leave. She may be threatened
with violence or death or
attacked if she tries to
flee. She fears for her
safety, her children's
safety, and the safety of
those who help her.
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For
many women, leaving is not
an alternative. There may be
nowhere to go and little or
no resources in the
community to help battered
women.
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Because
of religious, cultural, or
socially learned beliefs, a
woman may feel that it is
her duty to keep the
marriage together at all
costs.
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Many
women want the violence, not
the relationship, to end.
They may take steps to try
to stop the abuse. Leaving
home may be their last
resort.
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Some
women will endure physical
and emotional abuse to keep
the family together for the
children's sake. Very often,
it is when the violence is
directed at her children
that she will take them and
leave. More than half of the
children whose mothers are
battered also are victims of
physical abuse.
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A
woman may be financially
dependent on her husband.
She will probably face
severe economic hardship if
she chooses to support
herself and her children on
her own.
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Can
a Battered Immigrant Woman get
legal help?
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Yes!
In the United States, you can call
the police (911) and access the
Family and Criminal Courts
regardless of your visa status.
Many battered immigrant women
report that they will not leave a
violent relationship until their
immigration concerns are
addressed. Battered immigrant
women face threats of deportation
by their abusers. Their abusers
often threaten to withdraw support
of their immigration petitions,
and feed them misinformation about
the laws in this country. In many
cases, the abuser speaks better
English than the woman and is able
to talk his way out of being
arrested when police come to the
scene. For these and many other
reasons, immigrant women may be
reluctant to come forth and ask
for assistance.
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Who
can I report Domestic Violence to?
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In
an emergency call 911.
National Domestic Violence
Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
24-Hour Hotline for Women's
Safety: 1-800-992-2600
MAIFS Hotline: Our toll-free
helpline is answered by trained
case workers and volunteers who
provide support to people who are
in abusive situations. Working
with sensitivity and care, case
workers offer support and
information, assist clients to
gain access to resources within
& outside of our community,
refer clients to shelters, medical
care, mental health services,
social services, and legal
services. Staff and volunteers
speak Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada,
Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi,
Punjabi.
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