Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse: Their Experiences With Domestic Violence Services

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this study is to explore and ascertain the experiences and perceptions of immigrant survivors of abuse who use (or have used) domestic violence services. Scholars have posited that the experiences of immigrant survivors of abuse are best understood against the backdrop of the social contexts that frame their lives. It is against this argument that the study was designed to capture how the intersectionality of multiple marginalities and identities (race, class, gender, culture, service user, etc.) framed the perceptions and lived experiences of the participants. The study design was informed by concepts in feminist theory and phenomenology. The resulting data illuminates how identity politics not only shapes the particpants' perceptions and experiences of domestic violence services, but also contextualizes the relations of power that exists between service-providers and service-users.</p>