Domestic violence is a pattern of assault and coercion that includes physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, and economic abuse perpetrated by an adult against their intimate partner. Domestic violence is behavior that attempts to control the victim in one or more ways. It can result in both physical and psychological harm to the victim and their children. It can also be life-threatening. It's important to understand that verbal and emotional abuse can be as scarring as physical abuse.
Domestic violence exists in all communities.
While the degree of violence may be the same across communities, the forms of the abuse may differ. Women who have come to Sakhi for help have often had to get restraining orders against their in-laws to protect themselves. In addition, dowry is a form of control particular to the South Asian community. Even in the United States, we have heard of women being punished for not bringing in enough assets to the marriage. South Asian women may also face extreme pressure to deliver a male child, and failure to do so, may result in further abuse.