Type:	Non-Fiction
Title:	Shattered dreams : marital violence against overseas-born women in Australia
Authors:	Easteal, Patricia
Keywords:	CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse);Leaving/Staying;Drug and alcohol misuse
Year:	1996
Publisher:	Australian Govt. Pub. Service
Notes:	General Overview: This Australian book uses the words of overseas born survivors of domestic violence to illustrate the dynamics of abuse and the difficulties for these women in escaping violence. Methods: This book is based on information gained from a survey of 800 domestic violence clients of Legal Aid throughout Australia; a survey of refuge residents in five states of Australia, surveys of Legal Aid practitioners, ethnic welfare agency staff and refuge workers; information provided by police about 3061 “domestic” calls to police in six states and in depth interviews with 21 survivors. Statistical information about the countries of origin of the women surveyed is included in the book but this data only represents women who have sought help. There was an over-representation of Asian women victimised by Australian born men, raising concern about sponsorship as an opportunity for violent men. Discussion: The author reviews the literature about domestic violence among overseas born people, considering the role of misogyny in both Australia and overseas countries, alcohol consumption, the stresses of migration and under-reporting. She also includes lengthy extracts from the interviews with survivors. The stories of overseas born women contain many similarities with those of Australian born women: the combination of physical, sexual, psychological and financial abuse, jealousy and isolation, and the erosion of self-esteem. Many of the women had experienced sexual abuse or neglect as children. Ethnic welfare agency workers thought that unemployment and alcohol were often factors in domestic violence against overseas born women, and thought that overseas born women had particular difficulty in getting help from police, leaving the home, living in refuges, getting legal assistance and disclosing to friends and family. Conclusions: Easteal concludes with recommendations for change, including for community education, equality for women, training and awareness for criminal justice system workers and changed attitudes to alcohol abuse.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/11431
ISBN:	9780644431385
Physical description:	xviii, 201 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.
Appears in Collections:	Books

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