A: The victim of domestic violence (women and their children)

Coming Up

A: Call the police. Domestic violence is against the law. The police can escort you and your children out of the house if you want to leave and often can take you to a safe place. If the police officer does not speak your language, find someone other than your child or abuser to interpret for you. There are a variety of services available to assist you to stop the violence in your home: shelters, hospitals, police, legal aid and other community services.

A: In many situations, she does leave! On average, a woman leaves an abusive relationship 7 times before finally making a break from violence. While she may leave the relationship, often victims do not receive adequate support from friends and family, and she has no choice but to return. For most of us, the decision to end a relationship is never easy. A battered woman’s emotional ties to her partner may still be strong, and she might hope to believe his abuser’s promise that he will change. If she has been financially dependant on her partner and leaves with her children, she will likely face severe economic hardships. Religious, cultural or family pressures may make her believe that it’s her duty to keep her marriage together at all costs.

A: The victim is probably doing her best to protect her children from the violence. She may feel that the abuse is only directed at her, and does not yet realize its effects on the children as many people don’t. Perhaps she believes that her children need a father, or lacks the resources to support them on her own. Also, the children may beg her to stay not wanting to leave their home or their friends. She fears that if she will lose custody of her children.

A: “Witnessing” can mean SEEING actual incidents of physical and/or sexual abuse, HEARNING threats of fighting noises, OBSERVING the aftermath of physical abuse such as blood, bruises, tears, torn clothes, or broken glass or having an AWARENESS of tension in the house, such as their mother’s display of fear when she hears the abuser’s car pulling the driveway. Many of the about responses will also be seen in children who are themselves victims of child abuse. In fact, various studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between woman abuse and child abuse, finding an overlap of 50-70% of both issues. One traumatic response that tends to be specific to child witnesses is extreme worry about their mothers and separation knowing that their mothers’ lives and well-being are constantly under threat, rather than a symptom of some “emotional problem.” Abusers typically play into this by putting the mother down in front of her children, telling them that their mother is “crazy” or “stupid” and that they don’t have to listen to her. It’s not surprise that studies have shown an increase of depression and violence in children witness of domestic violence. Boys are at risk of using violence against their partners in teen and adult relationships.

A: Yes, it is in Los Angeles. Domestic violence happens across culture, race/ethnicity, classes, education or income level. However, immigrant victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault including Korean Americans may confront additional barriers to deal with this issue.

A: In addition to the obstacles faced by battered women in our society, battered immigrant women in the Korean American community face a number of additional barriers. The majority of Home on the Green Pastures’ clients and their children are recent immigrants and/or undocumented, limited English proficient, economically disadvantaged, and/or unfamiliar or unaware of their legal rights and existing community resources. Recent immigrants who are dependent on their abusers for their resident status face an additional barrier to seeking help due to threats of being deported or losing their legal status.

A: A law passed by the U.S. government, called the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), creates ways for women who are married to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to get their residency. However, because the law is complicated, you should not go to the INS without first consulting a shelter social worker, immigration attorney,or a domestic violence or immigration agency for assistance.

A: If you are a battered undocumented woman whose husband has applied for legal permanent residency on your behalf, or if you have applied for legal permanent
residency under the Violence Against Women Act, you are eligible for the same benefits as a legal permanent resident.