I turn to my community for support.

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My experience:

I’m hoping to find support and a kind ear, but it’s exactly the opposite: everyone is pushing for me to reconcile with my ex. The community convinces me to sit down with my ex so he can “forgive me” for leaving him. I keep hearing about how keeping the family together is more important than anything else, and that, as a wife and a mother, it’s my job to maintain this harmony. Every time I try to get help, I feel like I’m betraying my loved ones, and the fear of losing my or my children’s status just adds more pressure.

Explanation:

In some communities, socialization and cultural norms value family above all else, which can lead people to minimize or normalize abuse. For many immigrant women, social isolation and a lack of information about their rights reinforces this pressure. Mistrust of the authorities and the immigration system, combined with these cultural norms, make them especially vulnerable to their ex’s—or their social circle’s—manipulation.

Resources:

SOS violence conjugale

This project was funded by the Government of Quebec/Secrétariat à la condition féminine.