Help-Seeking Behavior of Intimate Partner Violence Among Immigrant Women in Taiwan
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Yang, Yu-An
Abstract
More and more immigrant women, mainly from Southeast Asia and Mainland China, have immigrated into Taiwan due to transnational marriage mediated by marriage brokers or relatives since the 1980s. However, according to recent reports the number of victim of intimate partner violence increased dramatically and has became a serious social problem. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the help-seeking behaviors among abused immigrant women as well as how the relevant laws and services respond.
This research adopted qualitative research approach to analyze the data obtained from in-depth interviews with 8 abused immigrant women (either from Southeast Asian or Mainland Chinese) and one social worker who is specialized in domestic violence. Eventually, the findings demonstrated their life experiences before the violence, the type of the violence, and help-seeking experiences with informal and formal support systems according to the timeline.
This research showed that most participants were rarely aware of intimate partner violence before marriage and hardly able to establish personal networks or to have access to the present relevant laws or social services after immigration. In addition to physical violence and psychological abuse, generally they also experienced financial control and social isolation.
In terms of help-seeking, these battered immigrant women firstly intended to seek help from informal support system included the family/friends in the original country or in Taiwan, the husband’s family, and the neighbors /community leaders. Nevertheless, they turned to formal support system due to the incompetence at stopping violence of these informal supports. Unfortunately, evaluating the responses from the police, the medical system, the social assistance department, and the legal and immigration service department, this study discovered that service providers were quite often inefficient because of their lack of professional ability and multicultural competency. Furthermore, this study indicated that although the amended law about immigration has been applied in practice to help some participants get rid of their abusive partner, the social welfare rights of these immigrant women would be the next crucial issue we should consider.
In the end, based on the findings above, this study brought up some suggestions to improve the service delivery and relevant policy or systems and then gave advice on future research.
Subjects
Immigration
Foreign brides
Intimate partner violence
Help-seeking
Type
thesis
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