Legal System and Culture Bind Some Immigrant Women to Abuse
Cultural boundaries leave some women in New Jersey in domestic abuse situations for far too long. Immigrants from South Asia have a particularly hard time discerning the intricacies of the legal system and the rights they have to free themselves from the restrictions of domestic violence.
Many immigrants from countries like India come to New Jersey with hopes of change. In many circumstances, a woman and her husband have traveled to the United States so the husband can find a job. Work visas are usually filed for by the husband so he can find an occupation when the couple arrives. The woman’s visa tends to be an H4 visa that is attached directly to a husband’s work visa. Often women fear they will be deported if they speak out about a situation of abuse.
Immigrant women in a situation like this may feel extremely helpless if domestic violence begins to occur. With the complications of the visa system, even more feelings of inadequacy can arise. Many women in this situation have found themselves keeping quiet about any spousal abuse that they are victims of because they do not know that they have opportunities to help themselves. In addition, divorce in some South Asian cultures is frowned upon, and some abused women are afraid that they will hurt the reputation of their parents by openly accusing their husband of abuse.
Some organizations in New Jersey are hoping to help these women. By going to these organizations, some abused women have found a tool for escaping abuse from their husbands or other family members.
Domestic abuse is something that no one should have to endure. Domestic violence organizations provide a good first step for victims of domestic violence. It also important for these victims to understand that legal action can be taken to help ensure that they are safe from their abuser. Temporary and permanent restraining orders can be enacted to make sure an abuser is never allowed near a victim.
Source: My Central Jersey, “Battered South Asian women struggle with cultural and legal obstacles,” Bob Makin, Aug. 6, 2011