The UK government’s conflicting agendas and ‘harmful’ immigration policies: Shaping South Asian women’s experiences of abuse and ‘exit’

Abstract

In the context of the UK government’s immigration policies, this article argues that the secondary nature of gender equality compared to the UK government’s multiculturalism and assimilation agendas has directly impacted on South Asian women’s experiences of family abuse. By drawing on the experiences of 11 Pakistani Muslim women, this article explores the manner in which immigration rules can equip perpetrators of abuse with a powerful tool of oppression, where women can be faced with threats of deportation, or be left economically destitute when leaving an abusive relationship. This article also elucidates the overlooked experiences of UK-domiciled women of South Asian heritage with husbands on a spousal visa who are also being adversely affected by these policies. By acknowledging the hidden nature of abuse, and the economic dependency that characterises women’s experiences of abuse, it is argued that the UK government must critically evaluate its immigration policies.

Domestic abuse, crime surveys and the fallacy of risk: Exploring partner and domestic abuse using the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey

“…However, once again strong interaction effects are observed between being a female respondent and being in the lower income categories (OR 2.2–4.0), as well as experiencing broader violence (OR 2.1) and citing affiliation with a minority religion (OR 5.7). Notably, the main effect of minority religious affiliation is the opposite to that observed here, suggesting the emergence of a particular gender difference among this group of respondents, supported in the wider literature (Mirza, 2015) but previously thought to be beyond the scope of SCJS measurement.…”

“…Once again, the findings must be treated with caution. While no prevalence data exist from which dispute them, existing research indicates the scope of the SCJS is too limited to pick up on more diverse experiences of abuse within minority communities (Mirza, 2015). Sexual orientation and disability both emerge as significant.…”

Perspectivas do conhecimento acerca da violência contra mulheres migrantes: mapeamento da produção acadêmica Strictu Sensu

“…As formas de violência relatadas nas produções acadêmicas também são evidenciadas em outros estudos nacionais e internacionais (Morales et al, 2016;Alencar-Rodrigues & Cantera, 2016;Briones-Vozmediano et al, 2016;Flores, 2016;Gennari et al, 2017;Ghafournia, 2017;Kapur et al, 2017;Martinez-Roman et al, 2017;Mirza, 2016;Rodrigues & Leonor, 2017;Souto et al, 2016), coerentes com a dimensão da problemática da violência de gênero contra mulheres imigrantes e refugiadas, violências essas praticadas de diferentes formas, e por diferentes sujeitos contra esse grupo populacional. Nessa esteira, é importante salientar que a Declaração sobre a Eliminação da Violência contra as Mulheres (1993) ratifica a compreensão em âmbito mundial de que todas as formas de violência contra todos os grupos sociais e identitários de mulhereso que inclui as mulheres imigrantes e refugiadas-constituise uma grave violação dos direitos humanos e uma forma de discriminação.…”

Shaping Priority Services for UK Victims of Honour‐Based Violence/Abuse, Forced Marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation

“…; Gill, Begikhani and Hague ; Mulvihill et al . ), the emergence of new professional practice in response to HBV/A (Local Government Association ; Payton ; Safe Lives ), and the key issues of racism, discrimination, and cultural misunderstanding in this field (Korteweg ; Mirza ; Razack ). However, to date, few studies have asked how these approaches might be coalesced in wider efforts to develop, or reduce barriers to accessing, services for a group now formally included among VCOP's ‘priority victims’.…”

“…Over the past decade, HBV/A has become a growing policy challenge in the UK (see Bacchi 2009;Brandon and Hafez 2008;Chantler, Gangoli and Hester 2009;Thiara and Gill 2010). Together, these and other studies have explored aspects of victims' experiences Gill, Begikhani and Hague 2012;Mulvihill et al 2018), the emergence of new professional practice in response to HBV/A (Local Government Association 2015; Payton 2014; Safe Lives 2014), and the key issues of racism, discrimination, and cultural misunderstanding in this field (Korteweg 2017;Mirza 2016;Razack 2004). However, to date, few studies have asked how these approaches might be coalesced in wider efforts to develop, or reduce barriers to accessing, services for a group now formally included among VCOP's 'priority victims'.…”