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Violence Against Asian Immigrants
Violence against
women is seen in every race and social class, but help does not reach every community.
Asian Immigrant women are particularly in need of help.
The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) explains the problems: “In communities where statistics are available, API [Asian Pacific Islander]
women are over-represented in domestic violence homicides. For many API women seeking help, resources are not as readily available
as they are for white, U.S. born, and English-speaking women. Additionally, pervasive stereotypes about Asian Pacific Americans as
‘model minorities’ without social problems perpetuate the notion that violence against women does not occur in
our communities. At the same time, an opposing yet prevalent notion -- perpetuated
both within and outside of our communities -- that violence against women
is ‘just part of Asian cultures’ reinforces racist and imperialistic ideas that Asian cultures are intrinsically violent and regressive in comparison to more ‘enlightened’ Western
societies.” Please see www.napawf.org for more information.
AALSA will follow NAPAWF’s strategies to end domestic violence by working locally
with Gulfcoast Legal Services, a nonprofit legal service that is committed to serving individuals whose circumstances limit
their access to legal services. Gulfcoast established an immigration department last year and has lawyers that
specifically deal with violence against immigrant women. AALSA will inform Tampa
Bay’s Asian community that
there is help available for immigrant women.
Women do not have to be afraid of deportation or of putting their immigration status
at risk. Most women can leave their male sponsors and remain in the U.S.
For a confidential consultation, contact
Gulfcoast Legal Services
641 1st Street S
St. Petersburg, FL
727-443-0657
1-800-230-5920
Offices located in Bradenton, Clearwater, Sarasota, & St. Petersburg
