Citation

Pillai S. Econ. Polit. Wkly. 2001; 36(11): 965-974.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Sameeksha Trust)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article explores the impact of domestic violence on Asian immigrant and refugee women in New Zealand. Domestic violence needs to be recognised as abusive and as a crime. Asian men use violence as a way of securing and maintaining the relations of male dominance and female subordination, which is central to the patriarchal social order. It is essential that various theoretical works on domestic violence in New Zealand recognise and understand the variation in cultural and familial constraints experienced by different groups of ethnic-minority Asian immigrant and refugee women. Despite the fact that a wide range of interventionist services exist and there is a very progressive legislation against domestic violence in New Zealand due to various cultural and structural constraints, Asian women find it difficult to access them. This article examines these issues and in conclusion suggests that the Asian community take responsibility to address this issue as well as the perpetrators.