Intimate partner violence
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is not unique to any one cultural, linguistic or ethnic group of women: any woman can experience intimate partner violence.
Similar to Canadian-born women, many immigrant and refugee women may believe that:
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They provoked marital conflict and did not do enough to reduce it (Godoy-Ruiz et al., 2015; Hyman et al., 2011).
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It is their role to keep their husband happy and avoid provocation (Ahmad et al., 2009; Godoy-Ruiz et al., 2015; Hyman et al., 2011).
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It is their fault if the relationship fails (Godoy-Ruiz et al., 2015).
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These myths persist regardless of immigrant or non-immigrant status.
For some, there may be conflict around “traditional” gender roles and changes in the division and expectation of both paid and household labour (Hyman et al., 2011). In addition, failure to conform to traditional social norms or engaging in gender-inappropriate behaviour may be considered “bad,” or some groups may consider the women to be “bad mothers” (Godoy-Ruiz et al., 2015; Hyman et al., 2011). This lack of conformity could lead to further social pressure on the women from their family, friends and community.
Refugee and immigrant women who experience IPV may also stay in abusive relationships for fear of being sent back to their countries of origin (Ahmad et al., 2009) (Njie-Carr, et al., 2020).
Non-status immigrant women or those in the process of applying for refugee status may fear that disclosing or reporting experiences of sexual violence will bring attention to their status or jeopardize their chances of being granted status. Abusive partners can also threaten women with deportation and they may not be aware of their legal rights or of the support services available in Canada. In addition, refugee or immigrant women may not feel comfortable asking for help from the police or social, healthcare or settlement workers due to mistrust of authority figures. The police, the military or other officials may have been perpetrators of abuse in their countries of origin.
Refugee or immigrant women with permanent resident status cannot lose that status or be forced to leave Canada on the basis of leaving an abusive relationship.
It is important to note that the safety and security of individuals experiencing intimate partner violence is crucial. These individuals can always seek services through their local health care organization. Also, the legal process can follow with resources offered by many organizations supporting IPV.
Refugee women with temporary or no status who are considering leaving an abusive husband or partner should seek legal advice to understand their options. Legal issues that they are not aware of because of their immigration status may affect their situation and they should seek legal advice about their options (Community Legal Education Ontario [CLEO], 2014). In most provinces and territories, free legal clinics and legal advice for people who cannot afford to pay a lawyer can be found by contacting the local or provincial/territorial Legal Aid office.
Violence against women and women's rights may be controversial or sensitive subjects in some local and global communities (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women [UN Women], 2011). Women may find that they become isolated from their community and social circle if they assert their rights. Some women may value community life and identification above their individual rights. Offering them an appropriate level of social support may help expose them to a variety of choices and options for decision-making.