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Williams CC, Gibson MF, Mooney E, Forbes JR, Curling D, green DC, Ross LE. A Structural Analysis of Gender-Based Violence and Depression in the Lives of Sexual Minority Women and Trans People. AFFILIA 2023; 38:350-366. [PMID: 37538836 PMCID: PMC10394395 DOI: 10.1177/08861099231155887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
This article explores structural mechanisms that are the context for violence and depression in the lives of sexual minority women and trans people in Ontario, Canada. The article draws on interviews with 14 people who reported experiences of depression in the previous year, foregrounding three representative narratives. Narrative and case study analysis reveal that violence is a repeated and cumulative experience over lifetimes, occurring across different interpersonal contexts and institutional encounters. A common theme across the narratives is that experiences of violence are connected to a broader context in which structural arrangements, cultural norms, and institutional processes create conditions where marginalized people are put in harm's way, perpetrators are empowered, and justice and access to help are elusive. As the violence experienced by these sexual minority women and trans people is rooted in structural and cultural oppression represented in poverty, racism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia, the prevention of violence and its consequences for these and other marginalized populations requires systemic transformation of the structures and systems that currently allow and perpetuate harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charmaine C. Williams
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret F. Gibson
- School of Social Work, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emily Mooney
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joellean R. Forbes
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Lori E. Ross
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract
South Asian American (SAA) youth are culturally diverse with respect to migration patterns, language, religion, and social determinants of health. Culturally specific stressors related to family, acculturation, discrimination, and intersectionality converge during developmentally sensitive periods, impacting mental health and identity development. "Model minority" stereotypes and somatic expressions of distress contribute to underdetection and limited perceived need for treatment. SAA families navigate structural barriers, including limited access to culturally tailored services, limited English proficiency, referral bias, and stigma, resulting in underutilization of services. Cultural considerations must be integrated into diagnostic conceptualization and treatment recommendations to effectively engage SAA youth and families in treatment.
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Lim S, Ali SH, Mohaimin S, Dhar R, Dhar M, Rahman F, Roychowdhury L, Islam T, Islam N. Help seeking and mental health outcomes among South Asian young adult survivors of sexual violence in the New York State Region. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1147. [PMID: 35676672 PMCID: PMC9174918 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13489-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual violence is a growing issue faced across diverse South Asian American communities under the backdrop of a distinct religious and cultural environment that intersects with the ability to prevent and manage this public health crisis. There is also growing attention on sexual violence experienced by younger or second-generation South Asian Americans, although little is known on the prevalence of this violence and its impact on health outcomes. Using data from a community-driven sexual violence survey, this study describes the experience of sexual violence and related help seeking behaviors and mental health outcomes among 18-34-year-old South Asian Americans living near the New York (NY) State region. METHODS Participants were recruited via social media to participate in an anonymous survey developed in partnership with an advisory board of South Asian young adult representatives. Data was analyzed descriptively and through adjusted logistic regression models. RESULTS Overall, responses from 335 sexual assault survivors were analyzed. Types of assault experienced included no-contact (97.6%), contact (75.2%), rape attempts (50.2%), rape (44.6%), and multiple rape (19.6%). Many reported perpetrators were South Asian (65.1%) or family members (25.1%). Only 27.6% indicated they had reported assaults to authorities or received services. In adjusted analyses, odds of help seeking were higher among participants who were older (AOR:1.10, 95%CI:1.02-1.20), were a sexual minority (lesbian, gay, bisexual) (1.98, 1.05-3.71), had a family member as the perpetrator (1.85, 1.01-3.40), had lower disclosure stigma (1.66, 1.16-2.44), and experienced depression (2.16, 1.10-4.47). Odds of depression were higher among sexual minority participants and lower among those with higher sexual assault disclosure stigma (3.27, 1.61-7.16; 0.68, 0.50-0.93). CONCLUSIONS Findings call for greater targeted policy interventions to address the prevention of sexual violence among young South Asian Americans and greater focus on improving help seeking behaviors and improving mental health outcomes among survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahnah Lim
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shahmir H Ali
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, 708 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
| | - Sadia Mohaimin
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ritu Dhar
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Moitrayee Dhar
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Farzana Rahman
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Liza Roychowdhury
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tanzeela Islam
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nadia Islam
- Department of Population Health, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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