Many minority women in Canada who face the issue of abuse have to deal not only with the violence itself but with barriers involving race and gender that prevent them from seeking help.

The issues of minority women are often neglected by practitioners who lack an interest in their specific problems. Lack of resources, information and credible research on diseases unique to  minority populations are concerns in the community. Information targeted to women and girls in in these minority communities, particularly with regard to domestic violence as a healthcare issue, is seen as inadequate. A study is currently being undertaken by Women’s Health in Women’s Hands to examine the impact of racism on women’s health.

Barriers to seeking help

Racism, sexism and classism compound the inequities faced by women within minority communities.  Minority women face a triple bind in their attempt to negotiate Canadian society. First, they are women dealing with gender-based inequity. As immigrants, they face settlement issues. Finally, as women of colour, they face systemic and structural racial barriers. Gender based violence, single parent status, and over-representation in the low-income sector of the economy are serious concerns for a significant number of women in visible minority communities.

Impediments to leaving an abusive situation

This issue is both an internal and external one. While women leaders from within the minority community have been active in naming and taking action, much more work is needed for the communities to talk and take action on the issues. External influences, such as economic inequity, contribute to the cycle of violence and abuse by limiting a woman’s ability to leave a violent relationship. Underfunding of organizations contribute to the inadequacy of responses to domestic violence within the community.

Perceptions and much needed research

One negative aspect attached to this issue is the perception within the mainstream that violence, including sexual abuse, is a cultural trait of some of these communities. As noted by the FREDA report (2000), ‘discussions of violence in Aboriginal and immigrant and refugee communities use an essentialist notion of culture to explain violence’. In other words, many believe that violence is a natural part of these minority cultures. Thus, there is a need for credible research and information on the different forms of violence and abuse in different  minority communities – including violence and abuse against women and girls, sexual violence, elder abuse and violence among youth.

The opinions expressed in this text are those of the author.