Violence Affecting Asian-American and Pacific Islander Communities

Importance

A common stereotype of APIA men is that they are asexual. Unfortunately,some APIA men may attempt to dispel this stereotype by asserting their masculinity by means of violence. Others may become intent on raping women. Many APIA women are shown in images that portray them as subservient, innocent, fragile, and sexually exotic. These images are attractive to potential perpetrators of violence because they perceive the APIA women as being less powerful, less likely to defend themselves, and less likely to report violence; henceforth, the perpetrator is less likely to get caught.³

Statistics for APIA Women^4/5

• 44.8 % of African-American women, 38 % of white women, 25.6 % of Latinas, and 21.1 % of Asian-American women had a history of child sexual abuse.

• The rates for adult rape show African-American women disclosing the highest rate 37.9 %, followed by white women (25.5 %), Latinas (17.9 %), and Asian-Americans at 10.5 %.

• More than half (61.5 %) of the African-American women who were sexually abused in childhood reported rape as an adult, white women (44.2 %), Latinas (40 %) and Asian-Americans (25 %).

• A study of South Asian women in heterosexual relationships found that 40% of the participants revealed that they had been sexually or physically abused by their current male partners.

• Another study found that 61% of Japanese immigrant and Japanese American women experienced some form of physical, emotional, or sexual violence that they classified as abusive.

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Barriers to reporting sexual assault for women of color⁶

• Police brutality has damaged trust in minority communities and victims of sexual violence and battery in intimate relationships are often reluctant to call on police for protection.

• Women of African, Latin, and APIA descent and women from indigenous cultures have been sexually objectified by the dominant culture, so rape victims from all of these communities receive less sympathy and attention.

• In many APIA communities the topic of sex is not part of public discussion, which makes it harder for a victim of sexual violence to come forward.

• Due to cultural norms, many APIA women who are raped experience intense feelings of shame and guilt.

• Immigrant women worry about their residence status if they make their abuse public. Women who are illegal immigrants are understandably even more fearful of coming forward; however, the Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights can help them.

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Helping a relative or friend that has been victimized⁴

National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE

• Believe what a person tells you about his or her sexual assault or abuse.

• LISTEN, do not judge.

• Offer to assist the person in getting to a safe place, both physically and emotionally.

• Reinforce that the assault was not their fault. Many victims of sexual assault blame themselves.

• Reassure them that they are not to blame. The perpetrator is completely responsible for the assault.

• Be patient and understanding. Survivors have their own timetable for recovery.

• Accept the survivors choice of solution to the assault even if you disagree with that they have chosen to do. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT THEY FEEL EMPOWERED TO MAKE CHOICES AND TAKE BACK CONTROL than it is for you to impose what you think is the ‘right' decision.

• Let the person know that there are resources to help them.

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How to survive sexual assault

• Talk to a counselor trained to understand and assist victims of sexual assault

• Join a support group

• Talk to a trusted family member or friend

• Volunteer at the local rape crisis center or battered women's shelter

• Write poetry

• Listen to music

• Read a new book

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Sexual Assault Also Occurs to Men - FACTS⁷

• Boys and men can be victims of sexual assault and child abuse.

• Men who molest boys are pedophiles and the vast majority are not homosexual.

• Many survivors feel guilt and shame because they experienced physical arousal while being abused. Physical (and visual or auditory) stimulation is likely to happen in a sexual situation. It does not mean that the man wanted the experience.

• Studies have found males to be less negatively affected from abuse, but more studies show that long-term effects are quite damaging for both sexes. Males may be more damaged by society's refusal or reluctance to accept their victimization, and may keep silent.

• It is true that most perpetrators have histories of sexual abuse; but it is NOT true that most victims go on to become perpetrators. Research by Jane Gilgun, Judith Becker, and John Hunter found a primary difference between perpetrators who were sexually abused and sexually abused males who never perpetrated. Non-perpetrators told about the abuse, and were believed and supported by significant people in their lives. Those who do perpetrate in adolescence usually don't perpetrate as adults if they get help when they are young.

• Premature or coerced sex, whether by a mother, aunt, older sister, baby-sitter or other female in a position of power over a boy, causes confusion rage, depression or other problems in more negative circumstances. To be used as a sexual object by a more powerful person, male or female, is always abusive and often damaging.

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Sexual Assault Awareness Month⁸

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is observed in April and is the month dedicated to making a concerted effort to prevent and raise awareness of sexual violence and its prevention through special events, although such activities may occur at any time throughout the year. Recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month each year highlights sexual violence as a major public health problem and reinforces the need for prevention efforts.

The purpose of Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to increase the public's understanding about sexual violence in our society. This effort can help communities support rape and sexual assault survivors, victims, and their families, as well as the individuals and agencies that provide rape crisis intervention and prevention services throughout the year. It is also a time to encourage the public to take steps to address sexual violence. The hope is that a month of intensified awareness efforts combined with the broad spectrum of sexual violence prevention work throughout the year will bring us closer to ending sexual assault.

In 2003, based upon feedback from the field, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center ( NSVRC) instituted a national “Day to End Sexual Violence” to focus attention across the country on one specific day in April. On this day, all individuals are encouraged to participate in an awareness-raising activity in their community. The NSVRC believes that the more events that occur on this day, the more impact we can have in raising awareness of and promoting the prevention of sexual violence. Each year, our partners in the anti-sexual violence movement are surveyed to determine the day “ A Day to End Sexual Violence ” should be recognized. The next Day to End Sexual Violence will be observed on Thursday, April 6, 2006 .

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Resources

• Rape, Abuse, and Incest Network: http://www.rainn.org
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The National Women's Health Information Center . Office on Women's Health: http://www.4woman.gov/
• Crime and Sexual Assault Support Services: http://www.wwu.edu/chw/preventionandwellness/casas/index.html
• National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum: www.napawf.org/
• Project Survive Promoting Healthy Relationships-City College of San Francisco : http://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Women_Studies/Project_SURVIVE/index.html
• Male Survivor: http://www.malesurvivor.org/
• Prevention of Sex Trafficking http://www3.baylor.edu/~Charles_Kemp/sex_trafficking.htm

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References

1. Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.rainn.org/types-of-assault/sexual-assault.html.

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The National Women's Health Information Center. Office on Women's Health. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.4woman.gov/Violence/sexual.cfm.

3. Hall, G.C.N. (2002). Culture-specific ecological models of Asian American Violence. In G.C.N. Hall & S. Okazaki, (Eds), Asian American Psychology: The science of lives in context (pp. 153-170). Washington , D.C. : American Psychological Association.

4. Crime and Sexual Assault Support Services (CASAS). Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.wwu.edu/chw/preventionandwellness/casas/Statistics.html.

5. National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) Violence Against Women Act 2005. Retrieved March 16, 2005 from: http://www.napawf.org/file/issues/VAWA_FactSheet_Final_.pdf.

6. Project Survive Promoting Healthy Relationships (Cultural Differences)-City College of San Francisco. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Women_Studies/Project_SURVIVE/4_8.html.

7.Crime and Sexual Assault Support Services (CASAS). Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.wwu.edu/chw/preventionandwellness/casas/Healing_Recovery.html.

7. National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.malesurvivor.org.

8. National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Retrieved March 16, 2006 from: http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/index.html.

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