Post-Reading Questions Week Seven

“Intersectional analysis is a theoretical approach to the study of inequality
that incorporates the interplay of gender, race, ethnicity, and race in defining outcomes.” Intersectional analysis uses these categories to understand the phenomenon of domestic violence by examining how they interact on multiple levels of inequality. Nowadays domestic violence does not only refer to women, but to men as well. There are a lot of hotlines and shelters for victims of domestic violence, to help them move on and away from their problem. Paola Suoto is a director at Woman Inc., an agency that supports survivors in domestic violence situations. Woman Inc. does not only cater to women, but they also cater to all races and genders. They also have special programs that help the illegal immigrant victims get their citizenship or green card. Helping the survivors of domestic violence is not easy as it may sound; there are barriers that can complicate their access to the agency’s services. Some of the biggest barriers for clients to receiving help are language, resident status, and emotions. According to Paola, the language barrier prevents a lot of places from helping victims of domestic violence because they are not able to understand them; therefore they are unable to help. Resident status is also important when it comes down to trying to get help for domestic violence, because if the victim is an illegal citizen they can easily be deported back to their country. For example, if a wife or girlfriend that have no citizenship, has a child, and is a victim of domestic violence, they would be too scared to report their situation because they could have their child taken away from them. Emotions can also cause a barrier for victims of domestic violence because it prevents them from escaping that abusive relationship that they are in. For instance, according to the reading by Nazli Kibria, “Thu talked about leaving Chau, but she was scared. She thought that maybe Chau would come after her and the children and do something bad to them.” Kibria goes on explaining how in some cultures male dominance can get out of control, which can lead to violence. In the Vietnamese culture, any violence in the family is usually gossiped about and eventually leads to the community or the elderly to talk to the abuser, to try to make him change his ways or to leave the family. Victims of this can go get help from shelters and agencies. There are also programs that help illegal immigrants get their citizenship and residency.  Domestic violence can scar someone physically and mentally, it can affect anyone of any race or gender.

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