No race, culture, community or family is immune to family violence.

 

Prevalance

• Globally, 1 out of 3 women beaten or sexually abused during their life time
• U.S: Approximately 3 million women battered every year
• U.S.: Approximately 10 million children exposed to domestic violence each year
• Texas: 182,087 incidents reported in 2004
• Houston: 31,000 incidents reported in 2004
• Harris County: Over 45,000 family violence incidents reported in an average year

Comprehensive research on domestic violence is still limited, particularly research which analyzes the crossroads of domestic violence and the South Asian community.

 

Unique Issues Surrounding South Asian Victims

1–6 South Asian women residing in the United States appear to be at particularly high risk for intimate partner violence, with 40% reporting intimate partner violence in their current relationship in a recent study.

The issue of domestic violence has not been sufficiently addressed in the South Asian community, and because of that very few programs are currently available to ensure the safety and well-being of South Asian families in the U.S.

• Barriers caused by cultural/religious beliefs; linguistic barrier
• Isolation from home/family; also from adopted community
• Guided by values of privacy, honor, loyalty, shame
• Total dependency on one person, i.e. the abuser
• Lack of knowledge of legal rights and resources
• Visa status - fear of deportation/jail
• Perceived 'good life' in U.S.
• Involvement of in-laws; extended family members

Domestic violence is an issue in the South Asian community, as it is in all other communities. In one of the few studies conducted, researchers Anita Raj and Jay Silverman discovered that more than 40% of the 160 South Asian women, living in the Greater Boston area they surveyed, indicated that they were victims of intimate partner violence, and only 50% of women who experienced intimate partner violence were aware of services available to help them.

 

Daya Statistics

 

In 2012, Daya handled 315 total client calls. Charting the call volume helps Daya understand its demand and develop its services more efficiently and effectively

 

 

 

Daya tracks its client by national origin within the South Asian community. Charting such diversity helps Daya tailor its services to client’s specific needs such as language, religious and cultural beliefs, immigration status and acculturation to our area.