Exploring the Impact of Domestic Violence on Asian Women's Health

This report delves into the critical issue of domestic violence and its profound impact on Asian women. It begins by defining domestic violence, outlining its various forms including physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, and exploring the factors that perpetuate it, such as economic dependence, cultural norms, and upbringing. The report then examines the specific emotional and physical consequences experienced by Asian women, including both short-term and long-term effects, supported by statistical data from various Asian countries. Furthermore, it explores relevant legislation and protection measures aimed at safeguarding Asian women from domestic violence. The analysis highlights the prevalence of domestic violence in the region, discusses the challenges faced by victims, and emphasizes the need for comprehensive interventions to address this pervasive issue.

How Domestic Violence has an Impact on Asian
Women

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER- 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
1.1 Title........................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Introduction............................................................................................................................1
1.3 Background of topic..............................................................................................................1
1.4 Rationale................................................................................................................................2
1.5 Aims and Objective...............................................................................................................2
1.5.1 Aim.................................................................................................................................2
1.5.2 Objective.........................................................................................................................2
1.6 Research question..................................................................................................................2
1.7 Significance of topic..............................................................................................................3
CHAPTER- 2: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.......................................................................................4
2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................4
2.2 Meaning of domestic violence with its type..........................................................................4
2.2.1 Sexual abuse...................................................................................................................5
2.2.2 Psychological abuse........................................................................................................5
2.2.3 Emotional abuse..............................................................................................................6
2.3 Factors that perpetuate domestic violence.............................................................................7
2.3.1 Economic dependence on men.......................................................................................8
2.3.2 Culture............................................................................................................................8
2.3.3 Upbringing......................................................................................................................8
2.3.4 Area bought up...............................................................................................................9
CHAPTER- 3: IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE...............................................................10
3.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................10
3.2 Impact of domestic violence on Asian women....................................................................10
3.2.1 Emotional impact..........................................................................................................10
3.2.2 Physical impact.............................................................................................................12
3.2.3 Short term effect...........................................................................................................12
3.2.4 Long term effect...........................................................................................................13
3.3 Statistic related to various Asian countries on domestic violence.......................................13
CHAPTER- 4: LEGISLATION and PROTECTION FOR ASIAN WOMEN.............................16

4.1 Relevant legislation and data related with domestic violence.............................................16
CHAPTER- 5: CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................21
5.1 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................21
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................23

CHAPTER- 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Title
How domestic violence has an impact on Asian women
1.2 Introduction
Domestic violence is increasing in all parts of world not only within the families of
backward areas but rather witnessed in Western countries as well. Domestic violence or domestic
abuse is that part of violence of any sort of abuse which is done by one person of family against
another like that of marriage or cohabitation. The history of this domestic violence from around
the world is very old as there was no legal system which was related to wife being beaten up by
her in-laws or husband. Apart from this there were also many significant changes within the rules
and regulations of countries across world which is marking or setting up examples for gender
equality. These change was witnessed after the Feminist movement in 19th century in USA, UK
and other parts of world which was regarding this domestic violence.
Domestic violence is not just physical but also mental abuse and torture which person is
facing when they are committed within any type of relationships and this also take place in
heterosexual or same sex relationships. So there are many cases of domestic violence would
include violence or threating against, parents, spouse, children and elderly person of family.
There are number of forms of domestic violence which could take place like that of reproductive,
verbal, physical, emotional, religious, sexual abuse and economic. These could lead to many
range of different forms like marital rape, acid throwing, female genital mutilation, choking and
beating that ultimately lead to death or disfigurement. The major victims of this domestic
violence from across the world are women as they are considered to as economically and
physically weak.
1.3 Background of topic
Domestic violence or abuse within the Asian women is highly witnessed than any other
part of world. As many of the research show that there is significant direct relationship between
rates of domestic violence and level of gender equality in country. As the country which is
having less rate of gender equality will be having higher level of domestic violence statistics. As
many Asian countries like that of China, Bangladesh, India, Turkey, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Pakistan
and many more. It was noted in one of the report that about 21-55% of women Asian are victim
of physical or sexual violence during the course of their life and about 18% of them are
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experiencing rape or case of stalking by their intimate partners as well. So this particular report
will be largely covering the number of victims with impact of domestic violence within countries
of Asia.
1.4 Rationale
This is very much important to include or research on this topic as this would be giving
clear idea related to domestic violence and why it is so much prominent or commonly done on
women of Asia. There are increasing crime rates against women and children in these countries
which is very common in respect to domestic violence. There are many countries especially with
Islamic law which are to very greater extend giving permission to husband or male member of
family for the violence against women or their wives. For example in Iraq husbands are having
their legal rights as to punish their wives as they are not aware of what is been done with them is
wrong or right. As majority of women think that domestic violence as the judgement from God
to them and blaming themselves for the existing violence. Other than this most of the women
also are having no knowledge about the existing law and policies which are specially meant to
protect their legal right.
1.5 Aims and Objective
1.5.1 Aim
To explore the impact of domestic violence on physical and mental health of Asian
women
1.5.2 Objective
 To understand the meaning of domestic violence with its type
 To explore the impact of domestic violence on physical and mental health of Asian
women
 To identify statistic related to various Asian countries on domestic violence
1.6 Research question
 What is the meaning of domestic violence with its type?
 What is the impact of domestic violence on physical and mental health of Asian women?
 What is the statistic related to various Asian countries on domestic violence?
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1.7 Significance of topic
This topic will be very much significant for the person or researcher to carry on the
research on topic of domestic violence so that they are having specified knowledge to determine
the importance of this topic. This research will also be helpful for social workers or social
activists so that they could know epidemiology of domestic violence among Asian women.
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CHAPTER- 2: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
2.1 Introduction
Domestic violence is an act which is exercised by one person of family over other for
showing their power and influence on them who are generally considered to as weak or
dependent on others. As included above domestic violence was in mid of 1800 considered to as
valid action of men or husband exercising over their wives. There are many type of domestic
violence which takes place throughout the world including marital rape, verbal and physical
abuse as well. While there are also domestic murders which are witnessed by women of house or
family like that of bride burning, dowry deaths and honor killings.
So this part which is briefly describing the effects of domestic violence both mental and
physical that is witnessed by women living in Asia. This will be done based on literature review
where various parts or research of previous researchers is included with the underlying impact of
it. The part will be covering various types of domestic violence been acted against women of
Asian community.
2.2 Meaning of domestic violence and its types
According to Straus, et al., (2017) domestic violence is the violent act or behaviour
within the home typically involving the violent and abuse of spouse or partner. This would be
including any incident which is threatening to the person (either physical or mentally) or abusing
them in various ways like sexual, financial or physical. This could be within or among intimate
partners or family members not related to gender or sexuality of that person. Domestic violence
is usually a set pattern over time with use of threat or force for frightening victim and controlling
their behaviour. This means that the person who is abused always will be in threat of losing their
lives as abuser is in power of fearing him or her. There are many sort of campaign and promotion
which are done for giving up several rights to women against domestic violence all around the
world (Tavoli, Tavoli and Montazeri, 2016). But certainly this started after Feminist movement
which started in 19th century which was majorly contributing to giving up rights to women world
and making them aware of their rights.
As per the view of Brickell, (2017) victims of domestic violence specifically women not
have any knowledge that they are been violated and their rights are not given consideration by
their family members including husband. this is due to lack of education that women in Asian
community regard abuse by their husband to as legal and not report this to police. There are also
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taboos which guide male member of family towards their use of right to much greater extent
which is even causing death and disfigurement of another member. This means that male
members are influenced by their surrounding environment and think that whatever they are doing
is right. Asian women are experiencing this domestic violence and they are often victim of abuse
within the wider community as well (Asian Women, Domestic Violence and Mental Health,
2019). Many families having males into their house would be proving to be financially stronger
part of society and then violating the right of other people as well. According to Roberson and
Wallace, (2016) the gender stereotypes will be having very high conventional and they are
considering women to as responsible for maintaining pride and reputation of family. This means
that females of house in Asian countries like that of India and Pakistan are regarded for keeping
families reputation in society.
As per the domestic violence report of 2000 it could be included that in Cambodia there
were about 16% of women who are been physically abused by their partners and about 8% of
them were reported to as being injured. While in case of India were majority of case of domestic
violence is been identified included that up to 45% of women were physically abused by their
husbands that were about 6900 women only in state of Uttar Pradesh in 1996. Similar was found
as in case of Korea where around 38% of women were physically abused by their husband and
in-laws. While in case of Thailand this ratio was about 20% of husband physically abused their
wives at least once during their marriage.
These are all case which is about 18 years old including the physical abuse as cases
regarding to mental health are not certainly reported by any victim in countries. In context of
Russia there are about each 1 out of 4 cases which are of domestic violence being experienced
within the family. From various countries this domestic violence is not included typically into
criminal offense but it will be charged into several other crimes like that of assaults as this would
be leading to death of victim as well. In case of Turkey there were about 42% who faced
violence by their husband. According to view of García-Moreno, Kilonzo and Watts, (2015)
there are many Islamic countries or states of Asia region which are having their prevalence of
domestic violence. As they are having majority of Muslim culture which are having extra
pressure on the domestic violence as their husband’s would be manipulating Islamic law into
their control as well.
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Figure 1: Statistic related to various Asian countries on domestic violence
[Source: García-Moreno, Kilonzo and Watts, 2015]
The above image indicates number cases of domestic violence in the year 2017 as this is
very much common into countries of Asia. This report is only based on the experience of women
in respect with their intimate partner’s violence from year 2000-2017 (García-Moreno, Kilonzo
and Watts, 2015). Within country like that of Pakistan there are many case related to domestic
violence more than 90% where women are subjected to any form of violence by any member of
family (Asian Women, Domestic Violence and Mental Health, 2019). It was also found that there
are many cases within Pakistan where honour killings are reported to as the most serious
problem and issue as per the report of Human Rights. It could also be added by García-Moreno,
Kilonzo and Watts, (2015) that the domestic violence in India is also very much common
problem that includes the form like that of custom of dowry, honour killings, rape, sexual
assaults, and murders as well.
Honour killings is type of domestic abuse mostly practised in South East Asia which
means killing of any relative especially that of women or girl who are perceiving to dishonouring
of their family. There are many reasons for this including separation from spouse, refusing for
arrange marriage, having sex before marriage, having relationship which is disapproved by their
family or victim of rape as well. On other hand system of dowry in India is also regarded to as
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reason for domestic violence in which new bride is punished for not giving dowry by their
parents at time of marriage.
2.2.1 Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse as per the view of Messerschmidt and Tomsen, (2018) is part of domestic
violence which occurs especially on women and children which is also known to as molestation
or undesired sexual behaviour. This is normally done by one person over the other by using force
of taking advantage of another person’s weakness. Human trafficking is trade of humans for
purpose of forced labour, sexual slavery and commercial sex worker as well. Sexual abuse is
done on child, individual who is younger than age of abuser, on spouse and people having some
disabilities as well. WHO propose that in violence against women sexual abuse is one of the
most common crime which is faced by them across world. Other than this there are several
crimes which are been imposed on women of some of the Asian communities like forced
marriage, marital rape, cyber-stalking, body modification, forcing to watch pornography and
many more.
According to Root and Brown, (2014) it could be included that about 23% of Asian
Pacific Islander Women (API women) are victim of sexual abuse within which about 10% of
them are victim of completed or attempted rape. While it was also included that about 21% of
API women was victim of non-contact unwanted sexual experience during their lifetime. While
it was also noted that the 9% men in of API were victim of contact sexual violence in their
lifetime. This data is been spread across the Asian Pacific women like about 64% of women
from Pakistan and India and 56% of women from Philippines were the victim once in their
lifetime of sexual abuse.
2.2.2 Psychological abuse
Heise, (2018) proposed that psychological abuse is also a type of domestic violence
which is faced by the women throughout the world as this could be described to as mental torture
or abuse. Psychological abuse can include that of depression, bullying, abuse at workplace, gas
lighting, torture, human right abuse and psychological trauma which is been witnessed among
Asian women. According to Jewkes, Flood and Lang, (2015) psychological abuse could be
connected by the abuser in way of conducting torture to victim of abuse and other form and
could lead to chronic depression. Till the time of 1996 there was no such consensus that was
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available about the number of cases or victims of emotional or psychological abuse. While after
conducting certain research regarding this is was found out that emotional torture is also kind of
abuse in form of verbal or constant criticism to one person by the other one.
The victim of psychological abuse may experience many severe ill effects on their
physical and mental health as well as will be involving like that of depression and physical
impairment. There are many ways in which the women of Asian community will be facing
psychological abuse. Stockman, Hayashi and Campbell, (2015) state that there are male partners
who would not allow women to visit their families and friends criticising them all time and
punishing them if they are not able to meet demand of partners. Taking control over their
physical assets like money or property will be another type of psychological abuse which tends
to be very devastating for women. There are many women who will be realising about their
abusive relationship that they are both emotionally and psychologically impacted. They will be
into feeling of shock and grief after they recognise that they were abused by their partners
or any other person as well. The Asian women would be able to recognise this only at time
when someone is identifying their problems or marks of physical abuse.
2.2.3 Emotional abuse
Emotional abuse is termed to as harming the sentiments and feeling of other person not
by physically hurting them but in psychological manner. Roberts and et.al., (2015) note that the
time when one person is treating the other in very bad manner, calling their name in wrong way
or making them feel low or small all the time will be included as emotional abuse. There are
many constitutes of this emotional abuse which are all related to ill behaviour of one person to
that of others. Like intimidation or threats that includes shouting or acting aggressively and
making them feel scared and feeling them small as well as witnessed in Asian community.
Criticism is also kind of emotional abuse as stated by Dixon and Robb, (2015) which includes
making unpleasant or sarcastic manner which will be lowering down the self-esteem or self-
confidence of that victims. Emotional abuse could also be taken in form of undermining which
means that creating unnecessary doubts about the character of victim. It could be included that
emotional abuse is also caused by not having access to money in way of satisfaction of demand.
Economic abuse in women is very much prominent that would be making them dependent upon
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the male member of house and not allowing them in their finance or preventing them in getting
or doing any job.
2.3 Factors that perpetuate domestic violence
According to Bair-Merritt and et.al., (2015) social problems are the main factors that
perpetuate into domestic violence which create the highest vulnerability and lead with
victimising of women. However, it could be noted that there is no single factor which is
contributing into domestic violence against women from Asian region Dixon and Robb, (2015).
There are certain interrelated and some complex factors that are leading to the manifestation of
unequal power that is showing relation between women and men in Asian communities. On the
other hand, some of the factors which is contributing towards domestic abuse and other type of
violence against the women would be like that of cultural, economic, political and legal.
Figure 2: Factors that perpetuate domestic violence
[Source: Bair-Merritt and et.al., 2015]
From the above table it is clear that women in Asian countries are suffering from
domestic violence is due to reasons such as these communities are made up with gender specific
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