Author(s)

Masiya Ahmadzai¹, Catherine Carolyn Stewart², Bharati Sethi³

¹Social Justice and Community Engagement, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford, Canada.
²Human Rights and Criminology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Brantford, Canada.
³School of Social Work, Kings College, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

The purpose of this exploratory and qualitative research was to better understand the personal experiences of visible minority immigrant women seeking help with domestic violence (DV) in Southern Ontario, Canada. In-depth interviews were carried out with two survivors of DV and three DV professionals: their personal and professional experiences with DV as it affects visible minority immigrant women were explored. A gender-based analysis of the participants’ narratives revealed that a number of diversity-related axis such as, gender, visible minority, immigrant status and economic status influenced women’s experiences with abuse. The results indicate the various barriers visible minority immigrant women who are experiencing DV, may face when they try to seek help and support. Specifically, challenges include recognition of foreign credentials and employment, language, culture, isolation, and shelters. Police responses, court proceedings, spousal sponsorship policies, legal status and fear of deportation/breakdown of sponsorship contribute to structural barriers. Study implications for policy and practice are discussed and recommendations provided.

Domestic Violence, Visible Minority, Immigrant, Barriers, Canada

Ahmadzai, M. , Stewart, C. and Sethi, B. (2016) A Study on Visible Minority Immigrant Women’s Experiences with Domestic Violence. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 4, 269-286. doi: 10.4236/jss.2016.45030.