Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Access to the Justice System by Abused Refugee Women in Canada

Little research has been done on conceptualizing gender-based violence (GBV) against immigrant and refugee women as a continuum of violence. The objective of the larger study was to understand gender-based violence in migration and analyze the ways in which discriminations and inequalities interact to increase vulnerability and decrease access to supports and services for some women. Using (a) the concept of continuum of [sexual] violence and (b) intersectionality, we demonstrate the need to both document the range of violence in women’s lives and the tactics of victimization among immigrant and refugee women and show how they are different than the cumulated literature showing victimization tactics against the Canadian-born population. Using semi-structured interviews via phone or video, we asked professionals (N = 43) who worked with migrant women across Canada about forms of GBV experienced in the immigrant and refugee populations they worked with. Participants reported that non-physical forms of violence are more normalized, but also more commonly experienced than physical forms of violence in Canada. Additionally, intersecting social identities impact both the distinct and amplified forms of GBV immigrant and refugee women experienced. Results contribute theoretically and empirically to the conceptualization of the GBV experiences by immigrant and refugee women in Canada.

BackgroundVaginal fistula (VF) affects 2–3 million women globally, with the majority in Africa. In Uganda, it’s 2%, with western Uganda having the highest prevalence. Major predisposing factors for refugee women include health system breakdowns and sexual violence during conflict. VF has severe consequences for women, relatives, and communities. There’s limited information on lived experiences among refugee women with VF, and there’s a need for quality prevention, treatment, and social reintegration strategies. This study aimed to understand the physical, psychosocial, and economic impacts of VF on refugee women in Nakivale and Oruchinga settlements and their coping mechanisms.MethodsTen refugee women with VF were interviewed using qualitative study design, utilizing Social-Ecological and Transactional Models for data collection, analysis, and discussion.ResultsTen refugee women aged 24–50 years with or who had experienced VF participated in the study. They lived with VF for at least 2–15 years and had multiple stillbirths. Obstetric Fistula (OF) was the leading cause, followed by rape and cancer. Post-fistula, they faced social discrimination, emotional disturbances, survival difficulties, poverty, and lack of support. They struggled with stigma, social isolation, and marital sexual challenges.ConclusionRefugee women experience physical, emotional, financial, social, and sexual trauma due to VF. Discrimination and stigmatization from loved ones and society lead to isolation, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Despite successful repair, their social and emotional healing remains a burden for their lives. There is a need to provide a supportive environment for VF survivors.

In the United States, survey research and qualitative studies consistently find that people of color-and Blacks in particular-report substantially lower levels of trust than do whites. These racial differences in trust pervade a range of social contexts, from interpersonal relationships with friends, family, and neighbors to interactions with the health care and criminal justice systems. Scholars often attribute racial differences in trust to historical and contemporary forms of discrimination, yet few studies have assessed the relationship among race, discrimination, and trust in the context of the United States. Using the Chicago Community Adult Health Study, I examine how the experience of discrimination relates to generalized trust, trust in neighbors, and trust in community police. Findings reveal that personal experience with discrimination contributes modestly to racial differences in trust. In fact, the negative association between discrimination and generalized trust appears strongest for whites. These findings suggest that understanding distrust requires a richer conceptual framework that moves beyond personal experience with discrimination. I argue that the theory of systemic racism provides a framework for understanding distrust as a consequence of countervailing efforts to uphold and contest the racial hierarchy.

This thesis examines social work practice within a rural Aboriginal community in north-west Victoria, Australia. It places the engagement of social work and the Aboriginal community in an historical context from 1970 until 2007. Historically, there has been a legacy of policies and practices enforced upon Aboriginal people in the name of welfare. This thesis examines pre-colonised Aboriginal Australia and provides an overview of the impact of colonisation as an historic context to the more recent experience of Aboriginal Australians and the provision of welfare services in the community of study. Policies prior to the 1970s were directly aimed at assimilation and absorption of Aboriginal people into white society. Policies from the 1970s onwards saw a significant change in philosophy, espousing self-determination and self-management of Aboriginal affairs by Aboriginal people. This has been followed in recent years by more directive policies and a shift away from the commitment to self-determination. Regardless of the philosophy of the time, what is evident is the failure of policy and practice to make a positive impact on the lives of Aboriginal people. Data shows an over-representation of Indigenous children and young people in out-of-home care, of children and adults in the justice system, and also that the life expectancy of Indigenous Australians remains significantly below that of non-Indigenous Australians. Some remote Aboriginal communities are acknowledged to be in a state of crisis in relation to violence, alcohol and drug dependency, and the abuse of women and children. This analysis will endeavour to discuss the impact this legacy has had on both the Aboriginal community and social work as a profession, and how it continues to have an impact today. I also highlight how the experience of this one Indigenous community is reflective of policies, practices and philosophies in Australia's engagement with its Indigenous population. Therefore, parallels can be drawn regarding the wider Indigenous experience, from the analysis of this one Aboriginal community's journey in relation to welfare and social work.

Past and Present Acts of Exclusion

This paper explores the ways in which government policy and public discourse have operated to enhance and maintain the liminal status of Somali women refugees in Canada, and the ways in which Somali Canadian women have resisted these efforts in order to create meaning and a place for themselves and their families in North America. The policies and practices that obliged many Somali women to wait three to five years to apply for permanent residency status, Eurocentric definitions of the family that constrain family unification strategies, and economic marginalization due to lack of recognition of foreign credentials have had cumulative adverse effects on the health and well-being of Somali women in Canada.

Although urban populations are becoming increasingly diverse, most cities are not designed to provide equitable access to urban amenities and infrastructure. Twentieth- century Western urban design standards were rooted in Eurocentric ideals, primarily addressing the needs of White, economically secure, able-bodied, neurotypical, cis-gender, heterosexual males. As a result, one key aspect of designing equitable cities is understanding the different embodied experiences of marginalized populations. However, at present, city planners rely on quantitative and abstract urban studies that continue to render other social groups invisible. This issue is particularly relevant in countries such as the settler state of Canada, where projections estimate that by 2041, one in three people will be a current or former immigrant. In addition, two in five people and one-third of the total female population will belong to racialized populations. This study focuses on Ottawa-Gatineau, two neighboring cities that mirror national demographic trends. I combine two mapping methods to document the distinct urban experiences of diasporic communities. The first method involves using Geographic Information System (GIS) to map census data, creating demographic maps of Ottawa-Gatineau. The goal is to select neighborhoods with a high density of economically insecure and racialized immigrant and refugee women, where the study of urban equity is more relevant. The second method involves a participatory mapping workshop to document the first-hand urban experiences of community members. The goal is to assess the adequacy and accessibility of urban infrastructure in their neighborhoods. Participants overwrite a map with their comments as an empowering technique that emphasizes their capacity to lead changes. The assessment, driven by the interests of participants, addresses topics such as transportation, amenities, services, and housing. The study reveals that beyond mere physical presence and proximity, questions about cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity, gender and age inclusivity, safety, affordability, schedule flexibility, maintenance, transit reliability, and social diversity and connectivity were crucial in assessing the adequacy and accessibility of urban infrastructure.

The postnatal experiences of resettled Syrian refugee women: Access to healthcare and social support in Nova Scotia, Canada

This research aims to design a folk dance Expression program for refugee women in Canada and to find its impact on some morphological and physiological variables (cortisol level) for refugee and the psychological stress . The research also aims to study the effectiveness of the applied folk dance Expression program on these variables and Obtain self-Assessment on the folk dance program from the research sample of refugee .The results are 1- The folk dance Expression program improved morphological and physiological variables in the range between (10.46%: 67.47%) in favor of post measurement.2- The folk dance Expression program relieved some psychological stresses as economic stress improved by 47.26%, work stress improved by 19.35%, health stress improved by 18.06%. The overall score of the scale improved by 14.10% in favor of post measurements.3- The self-Assessment of the program was positive, as the research sample of refugee agreed on the program at a rate ranging from (81.6% to 100%).4- Defining a day each year dedicated to disseminating different Arab cultures (the second week of December every year) which contain a set of activities that help to stand by the Arab refugees International Exhibition of Multiple Cultures.Recommendations:1- The necessity of paying attention to measuring psychological stress for different groups of society and the good planning to overcome it.2- Caring for refugees, providing health care and psychological support to solve their problems .3- Preparing more studies on refugees and providing more rehabilitation programs to help them .

The personal characteristics that contributed to her successful adjustment include her absolute realism; her capacity to live in the present and retain a sense of humour and serenity throughout her ability to accept the loss of her children and her wealth; her persistence in attempts to obtain all possible rights and opportunities available to her as a refugee. During the most difficult months after resettlement, she was saved from the depths of depression facing many of her family members by her optimism and practicality (her pride did not stop her from accepting used clothes, unlike some of her relatives). She refused to acknowledge her marginal position in society and lack of opportunities, attributing her problems to h a lack of sufficient English skills and the economy. As a result of this attitude, she continued to seek out business opportunities, confident of her abilities and business potential.

This study sought to better understand the ways in which African women negotiate and navigate multilevel contexts and social forces throughout their migration and resettlement, in the pursuit of their football passion. The research utilized a narrative design to interview eleven women, aged between 18 and 24 years old, living in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia (SA). Bronfenbrenner’s Person-Process-Context-Time Social Ecological model was employed to identify the interrelated personal and environmental layers that influence the women’s experiences of football over time. The experiences of the women in the study highlight the cultural, religious and gendered intersections that influenced their football participation throughout pre-migration and post-migration. The women in the study demonstrated that although they were subject to varying degrees of socio-cultural pressure and experienced bi-cultural tension, they were able to draw on resources and skills to successfully negotiate their football participation.

The mediation movement in Britain over the last 15 years has been enormously successful in establishing a firm place in policy debates on the administration of civil and family justice. Arguably, it has taken the lead and framed the content of debate outside the criminal sphere. The mediation movement has challenged the purpose of the civil and family justice systems, the value of public courts, the relevance of judicial determination to modern disputes and the legal profession's commitment to representative advocacy. We have witnessed a revolution in dispute resolution discourse. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, political arguments, judicial speeches and policy pronouncements about how civil and family justice should be working now focus on how to encourage or force more people to mediate, on worrying about why more people aren't mediating, and on promoting the value of mediation to the justice system and society as a whole.1

There is considerable research about women who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in the Canadian literature. However, most of these studies have focused on IPV among Canadian-born women. Immigrant women who make the decision to seek help for IPV have received less attention in the research-based literature in Canada. This qualitative study examined the IPV experiences of 10 Spanish-speaking immigrant women in Canada, all from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The main focus was to examine the intersectionality between social support and help seeking behaviours for IPV. Results indicated that Spanish-speaking immigrants in Canada utilized both formal and informal sources of support for IPV. The importance of continuous support as a factor preventing women from returning to an abusive relationship was consistently reported by participants. Implications of the study findings and directions for future research are further discussed in this manuscript.

This research undertakes an examination of the employment opportunities and experiences of black Caribbean women in Canada, particularly within the context of the growing trend towards precarious jobs—casual, part-time and low paying—in the restructured Canadian labour market. The specific purview of this study is the labour history and employment experience of a representative group of black Caribbean women who work as Personal Support Workers in nursing homes across the Greater Toronto Area. A main concern of the study is to understand the ways in which precarious work affects these women’s settlement and integration experiences, particularly their ability to gain economic independence; this, in turn, affects a number of variables related to their, and others, perception regarding their status and place in Canada. By focusing on the case of Personal Support Workers, the study aims to shed light not only on the employment experiences of black Caribbean women in this sector but also to examine more closely the policies and employment practices that create labour market “niches” or labour “segregation” along racial and gender lines.

This comment discusses the historical development of social attitudes, social science research, and approaches in the justice system towards allegations of spousal and child abuse. Until relatively recently, victims of child abuse and spousal violence were largely ignored by the justice system, mental health professionals and social science researchers, and these victims rarely disclosed. In the late twentieth century, heavily influenced by feminist advocates and researchers, spousal violence and child sexual abuse were ‘discovered’; there was growing understanding and support for victims, and a great increase in reporting of child and spousal violence. The increase in reporting by genuine victims was accompanied a less frequent but serious problem – cases of false and exaggerated allegations. While a gendered basis analysis of issues of spousal and child abuse remains valuable, there is a need for development of more sophisticated and differentiated understandings of intimate partner violence and child abuse.