In search of interdisciplinary, holistic and culturally informed services: The case of racialized immigrant women experiencing domestic violence in Ontario

• Published date: 01 July 2022
• Author: Purnima George,Archana Medhekar,Ferzana Chaze,Bethany Osborne,Mirelli Heer,Hafsa Alavi
• Date: 01 July 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12653

ARTICLE

In search of interdisciplinary, holistic and culturally

informed services: The case of racialized

immigrant women experiencing domestic violence

in Ontario

Purnima George

1

| Archana Medhekar

2

| Ferzana Chaze

3

|

Bethany Osborne

4

| Mirelli van Heer

5

| Hafsa Alavi

5

1

Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada

2

Certified Family Law Specialist, Accredited

Family Mediator (AccFM), Etobicoke, Ontario,

Canada

3

Faculty of Applied Heatlh and Community

Studies, Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario,

Canada

4

Program Coordinator and Professor of Social

and Community Development, Sheridan

College, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

5

Ryerson University

Correspondence

Purnima George, Toronto Metropolitan

University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto,

ON M5B 2K3, Canada.

Email: p3george@ryerson.ca

Abstract

Domestic Violence (DV) is a social issue concerning all

women, but not all women are oppressed or impacted in

the same way. This paper draws on an analysis of fifteen

closed Family Law case files of racialized immigrant women

in Ontario who experienced DV to examine gaps in services

and suggest interventions to fill these gaps. The findings

reveal that these women and their children experience mul-

tiple and intersecting oppressions. Significantly, few existing

services recognize the multiple intersecting vulnerabilities,

systemic barriers in the host country, or other socio-politi-

cal, economic, and cultural realities these women face. Our

research reveals a lack of coordination between different

institutions providing services to these women. To respond

to these gaps, the authors recommend developing interdis-

ciplinary, holistic and culturally-informed services offered at

a single location to support racialized immigrant women and

their children as they navigate the complicated path out of

the traumatic entrapment of DV.

KEYWORDS

domestic violence, intersectionality, intimate partner violence

(IPV), multiple and intersecting oppression, racialized immigrant

women, services for women

DOI: 10.1111/fcre.12653

© 2022 Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

530 Family Court Rev. 2022;60:530–545.

wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fcre

Key points

•Gaps between the needs and services existing for racial-

ized immigrant women and children navigating various

systems and surviving domestic violence.

•Importance of holistic, interdisciplinary, accessible and

culturally informed services in helping racialized immi-

grant women navigate various systems and survive DV.

•Coordinated response of justice and social services sys-

tems for DV survivors.

•Understanding DV as patterns of coercive behavior

•Impact of DV on all members of the family unit.

INTRODUCTION

Domestic violence (DV) accounts for 25% of police-reported violent crimes in Canada, with women representing

80% of 97,500 adults impacted in 2011 (Statistics Canada, 2013). However, statistics do not capture the severity of

abuses nor adequately represent the multi-layered complications that entrap women and children. DV is conceptual-

ized as patterns of coercive behavior or abuse experienced with a partner or an ex-partner, or family member(s), that

deprive another of emotional, mental, physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual self-determination (Abraham &

Tastsoglou, 2016; Ahmad et al., 2013). Furthermore, while DV prevalence rates among racialized immigrant women

are inconclusive (Tabibi et al., 2018), racialized women are 45% less likely to report DV, and immigrant women are

39% less likely to report DV than their counterparts (Statistics Canada, 2006). Given that Canada continues to meet

its labor force shortfall through the migration of racialized persons (Giesbrecht et al., 2020), to be effective, the coun-

try's DV responses must keep in step with demographic changes. Research reveals that racialized immigrant women

do not necessarily benefit from existing services and policies often based on Eurocentric norms and assumptions.

George and Rashidi (2014b) argue that services in Ontario fail to “address all forms of abuse manifested through

patriarchy, structural and institutional oppressions”(p. 77). This paper analyzes 15 closed DV Family Law case files

to identify gaps in Ontario's DV responses and recommend solutions.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Research indicates that racialized immigrant women are more likely to experience DV due to various factors such as

low socioeconomic status, labor market discrimination (Guruge et al., 2008); economic dependence on their abuser;

social isolation(Abraham & Tastsoglou, 2016; Chaze & Medhekar, 2017); language barriers; a lack of knowledge about

support services(Tabibi et al., 2018), immigration law, andabout their financial andlegal rights (Tam et al., 2016).

Immigrant families face unemployment and underemployment due to labor market discrimination and policies and

practices that create systemic barriers to entry into jobs commensurate with their pre-migration work experience

(Guruge et al., 2008).Some examples of such systemic barriersinclude the refusal of professional regulatory bodies to

recognizeforeign credentials, and providea realistic pathway to licensure or accreditation; insistenceon Canadian work

experience (Ontario Human Rights Commission, n.d.-a); and language/accent related barriers (Chaze &

Medhekar, 2017).Financial stress coupled with working multiple low-paying jobs can resultin frustration, fatigue, and

tension (Matsuokaet al., 2013). Such pressuresincrease the likelihoodof family violence (Okeke-Ihejirika et al.,2018).

GEORGE ET AL.531