Gender Based Violence in Immigrant Families - Research Proposal Example

?Introduction Violence within various situations alters according to the expectations and associations that are related to given environments and circumstances. Gender based violence is a common problem that occurs because of relationship based powers that are associated within families (Dunkle et al, 2004: 17). When looking at immigrant families from Sub – Sahara Africa and living in Italy, it is noted that specific relationships to gender based violence occur. Examining the relationship to gender based violence and immigrant families living in Italy also provides a different form of insight into the amount of violence which occurs and the relationship that this holds to ethnicity or immigration. This research paper will examine the amount of gender based violence that occurs among immigrant families and what the root cause is from those living in this domestic environment. Basis of Gender Based Violence The importance of gender based violence of immigrant families living in Italy is not only created from the basic problems associated with the acts of violence. The concept also links to cultural associations that create an acceptance of the acts of violence. The association with Sub – Sahara Africa is one of the links that is created from this. Marital authority is a common association of those living from the region, leading to spouses not carrying specific rights in the family and a lack of rights which are available, specifically to women, living within the household. The result is a direct link to honor killings, sexual violence, criminal abuse and relations to intra-familial violence. The violence is not only related to the cultural beliefs but often causes women to not receive help because of the associations with culture and the rights of each spouse within the household. The immigrants which come to Italy often don’t link to criminal proceedings and are likely to not respond to the gender based violence, instead causing harsh conditions to continue to subside until medical assistance is needed (Barazzetti, Garreffa, Marsico, 2007). The complexity of gender based violence of Sub-Saharan Africans in Italy has become a compound problem because of the association with culture. Reporters are stating that the difficulty is the honor based violence and killing based on gender is acceptable among the culture and is therefore not able to create the right responses from those within the families. It is noted that 32% of women living in Italy have suffered from a form of violence with 80% of this being inside the home. However, only 10% of women from various cultures state that the gender based violence are a crime, while the other 90% believe it is an acceptable form of status that is within the household. It is also being stated that because of this mentality, the forms of domestic violence are continuing to rise with many overlooking the violence within their own household or becoming a part of the crimes based on honor violence and killings (Momigliano, 2010). Domestic Violence among Immigrants in Italy While there are many that believe the gender based violence is acceptable, there are also figures which show that the hindrances of this form of violence is continuing to rise within Italy, specifically among different cultural groups. It is noted that there are 69% of rapes which are conducted by a family member or friend while only 6% occur by strangers. It has also been found that almost 50% of the rapes occur by immigrants and within the same household. It has also been found that over 60% of women have suffered from domestic violence which is gender based while only 26% have considered this a crime. An average of 21% of women that have reported the violence as a crime say they have been unsatisfied with the responses from the police with little to no help available. The main problem is shown through women that are immigrants and which receive discrimination within the household and from police as well as a lack of policies available for all women who are suffering from domestic violence (Sabbadini, 2007). This shows that the complexity of domestic violence, specifically for immigrants from Sub – Sahara Africa, links directly to the lack of responses and the intimacy associated with the violence. The complexity that is a part of the discrimination within Italy is furthered with the expectations of resources that are a part of the area. The large amount of violence which occurs in the household is known to be acceptable by some, specifically when coming from a region in which the responses are culturally acceptable. However, there are also new delegations and attitudes that are being implemented which have caused women to not receive the needed help in the past. Immigrants that are a victim of gender based violence often don’t have access to resources or knowledge in Italy. When coming from another country, receiving the necessary help and understanding women’s rights in the country may become difficult to achieve. Stereotypical portrayals also occur from authorities and groups which don’t help refugees and which may not want to step into situations where immigrants are involved. These complexities are causing many women who are immigrants to Italy to not receive the proper help while having complex associations with modern associations that are needed (UN, 2011: 1). Policies Against Gender Based Violence The overall problem that is associated with discrimination and which occurs among immigrants in the household is one which is continuing to be approached with policies and expectations. According to the UN in conjunction with the European Union, basic human rights are required to gender based violence which occurs in the home. Minimum standards are expected to be met to ensure that women receive assistance if they are under a form of domestic violence, including applications to ensure that women no longer suffer under the same circumstances. Gender based persecution for immigrants, associations with women receiving assistance and protection for the family are some of the policies which have been implemented within Italy, specifically for immigrants which may not believe gender based violence is unacceptable or which do not know how to receive help outside of the household. Human rights acts and assistance for aliens are the main considerations to provide basic resources to those that are under the main act (CGR, 2011). Case Study for Immigrant Women The overall difficulties which are occurring with gender based violence in immigrant families living in Italy are one which continues with case studies of those from Sub – Saharan Africa. The case study is based on the understanding that there are spheres of violence against women, including domestic, employment, trafficking, racism and public attitudes from institutions. According to a recent case study, this combines with gender based violence moving into psychological components that don’t provide the right assistance for women. Women who come from Sub – Sahara Africa are not only inclined to believe the violence is a normal part of living. Many don’t seek refuge and help because they are already refugees, asylum seekers or moving to a different country. Insecurity and the lack of knowledge of what is available cause many immigrants to not work toward finding conducive solutions outside of the violence. These criteria lead to even more complexities that cause gender based violence to expand into all areas for women who are in need of assistance (Freedman, Jamal, 2008: 46). The case studies which follow this have led to a paradox with the gender based violence which has occurred and the high numbers associated with women who are immigrants and which have experienced a form of violence. An example of trying to overcome this is from the Daphne Programme, which is based on fighting violence for immigrant and refugee women. It has been found that the abuse which takes place among sub – Saharan Africans living in Italy is based specifically on a lack of education and a lack of resources available to the women. These combined problems have heightened the amount of violence among immigrants in the area. To counteract this, educational materials, training and support groups and forms of resources are required to assist with human rights activism. The Daphne Group has created activities, resources and programs to provide knowledge about the legalities of Italy and how this affects immigrants. Specifically, this is inclusive of individual assistance for gender based violence and partner programs that help spouses to recognize that gender based violence in the home is not considered legal within Italy. It is expected that with this guidance, it will begin to lower the amount of violence within the country, specifically with immigrant groups that don’t have the necessary knowledge to act against the violence taking place (Staflin, 2009: 3). It is expected that through programs like these, there is the ability to lower the amount of vulnerability among those in the region. The main initiative is to look at the heightened vulnerability which occurs among women who are facing gender based violence. The vulnerability comes from the conditions of immigration to a new country, cultural gaps between Italy and Sub – Saharan Africa and associations that cause a lack of resources to be available. The vulnerability which occurs at all levels is expected to change when there are more initiatives available for fundamental rights that are expected within the region. While these are beginning to be a guarantee among the countries, the gap is now associated with finding vulnerable groups of immigrants and beginning to educate and assist what is needed for human rights that are a part of the problem. Combining this with concepts such as socio – economic development furthers the options for international human rights while beginning to change the level of vulnerability among women who have migrated to Italy (Calavita, 2006: 72). Conclusion The concepts associated with gender based violence remain complex because of the associations with violence in the home. This is furthered with immigrant groups, such as from Sub – Sahara Africa, which associate the violence with cultural status in the home. The complexity of those which come to Italy further causes difficulties because of the lack of resources, components of human rights and the problems with refugee laws which are unable o provide the necessary resources for those coming into the country. To counteract this, the UN and programs such as the Daphne Program have been used as a way to change the situations of gender based violence. However, these newer programs are associated with trying to find new solutions to human rights problem that have an international basis. The problem with gender based violence from immigrants then continues to remain complex and without the necessary resources to counteract the needs within the country. References Alaniz, ML, RS Cartmill. (2008). “Immigrants and Violence: The Importance of Neighborhood Context.” Hispanic Journal of Contemporary Issues 13 (4). Angel – Ajani, A. (2002). “Diasporic Conditions: Mapping the Discourses of Race and Criminality in Italy.” Transforming Anthropology 31 (5). Barazzetti, Donatella, Franca Garreffa, Rosaria Marisco. (2007). “Daphne Project Proposing New Indicators: Measuring Violence’s Effects.” Center of Women’s Studies :Italy. Brinker – Gabler, G. (2007). Writing New Identities: Gender, Nation and Immigration in Contemporary Europe. UK: Routledge. Calavita, K. (2006). “Gender, Migration and Law: Crossing Borders and Bridging Disciplines.” International Migration Review 72 (1). CGR. (2011). “Gender Guidelines.” Center for Gender and Refugee Studies Retrieved October 22, 2011 from: http://cgrs.uchastings.edu/law/gender_guidelines.php#EU. Decimo, F. (2008). “Female Paths of Transnational Migration: Family Networks and the Relative Positions of Somali and Moroccan Women in Italy.” International Association of Violence Against Women. Della Porta, D. (2006). Social Movements, Political Violence and the State: A Comparative Analysis of Italy and Germany. UK: Butterworth – Heinemann. Dunkle, KL, RK Jewkes, HC Brown, GE Gray. (2004). “Gender Based Violence, Relationship Power and Risk of HIV Infection in Women Attending Antenatal Clinics.” The Lancet 15 (7). Freedman, Jane, Bahija Jamal. (2008). “Violence Against Migrant and Refugee Women in the Euromed Region: Case Studies: France, Italy, Egypt and Morocco.” Euro – Mediterranean Human Rights Network. Giles, WM. (2004). Sites of Violence: Gender and Conflict Zones. UK: Routledge. Joachim, J. (2009). “Shaping the Human Rights Agenda: The Case of Violence Against Women.” Gender Politics in Global Governance. 71 (3). Keygnaert, I, R Wilson, K Dedoncker. (2008). “Hidden Violence is a Silent Rape: Prevention of Sexual and Gender Based Violence Against Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Europe.” ICRH. Momigliano, Anna. (2010). “Honor Killing by Another Name.” The Nation (February). Peters, TL. (2006). “International Refugee Law and the Treatment of Gender Based Persecution: International Initiatives as a Model and Mandate for National Reform.” Transnational and Contemporary Problems72 (1). Plesset, S. (2006). Sheltering Women: Negotiating Gender and Violence in Northern Italy. California: Stanford Press. Sabbadini, Linda. (2007). “Gender Violence, Discrimination, Economic Statistics: New Challenges in Measures Based on a Gender Approach.” Global Forum on Gender Statistics (Istat). Staflin, Ingrid. (2009). “Daphne Program: Final Report: Self – Protection, Education and Choice through Interactive Learning.” Surrey County Council. Trappolin, L. (2005). “Gender Victims and Social Borders: The Globalization of Prostitution in Italy.” Dialectical Anthropology 3 (17). UN. (2011). “Italy’s Delegation Highlights Progressive Programs in Countering Criticism of Negative Attitudes Towards Women.” General Assembly Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Read More