Intimate Partner Violence Among Refugee Women Resettled in Nebraska: Voices from the Survivors
摘要
Intimate partner violence among refugee populations is severely understudied in the USA. Most of the existing studies are either from service providers’ perspectives or conducted in other countries. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of refugee women who experienced intimate partner violence. We interviewed 15 refugee women who resettled in the USA. Participants originated from five countries, representing diverse cultures across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Results showed that refugee women experienced physical abuse not only from intimate partners but also from other male family members. Economic abuse was common but manifested in different ways due to refugees’ unique life circumstances. Most perpetrators had substance abuse issues. Resettling to the USA did not change the perpetrators’ abusive behaviors. However, it did change the help-seeking behaviors of some victims. Nevertheless, seeking help remained a challenge because of the lack of concrete information. This study highlights the unique perspectives of refugee women on intimate partner violence within the context of extended family dynamics, patriarchal cultures, and refugee resettlement. The results call for culturally competent interventions and proactive strategies in educating and outreaching to refugee communities about intimate partner violence.