State of the Field

Executive Summary

 

About the Research

Much of the mainstream research on gender-based violence (GBV) overlooks or generalizes GBV in AAPI and South Asian communities. To address this gap, South Asian SOAR (SOAR) conducted nationwide listening sessions in 2021 with organizations on the frontlines of GBV work in South Asian American communities. In October 2022, the findings of these listening sessions were shared in the publication of a national report titled Together We Rise. This report presented a qualitative landscape assessment of the challenges and needs of South Asian communities experiencing gender-based violence.

However, a crucial need remained for quantitative data to better understand community-based organizations and the survivors they work with, including the programs and services they offer, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on them. To address this gap, SOAR conducted a national survey of its member organizations, the only national network of South Asian GBV organizations. This report shares they key findings from that survey and marks a significant stride towards gathering and disseminating essential data about GBV within South Asian communities. 

 

Summary of Key Findings

  • In 2021, 20 South Asian GBV organizations received an alarming number of over 43,000 helpline requests for support from South Asian survivors, and overall client volume nearly doubled between 2020 and 2021.

  • The highest number of South Asian GBV organizations are in NY, TX, and CA, with noticeable gaps in resources in the South and Midwest, areas with some of the fastest growing South Asian populations.

  • South Asian GBV organizations have budget sizes ranging from $8,500 to $4 Million and government grants were the primary source of funding, underscoring the urgent need for investment from private donors and foundations.

  • Around 93% of organizations’ clientele are women and 83% are heterosexual, yet we know rates of GBV for LGBQTIA+ survivors are staggering. This suggests the likely underrepresentation of LGBTQIA+ and male survivors, and the need for more services and outreach for these groups.

  • 58% of South Asian survivors are not U.S. citizens, and 49% are unemployed or under-employed, pointing to both the high vulnerability to immigration-related and economic abuse, as well as the need for legal and economic empowerment services.

  • South Asian survivors reported experiencing over 15 different forms of gender-based violence and abuse, including physical violence, sexual assault, in-law abuse, elder abuse, and more.

  • South Asian GBV organizations provide over 50 different forms of support, including housing, transportation, mental health, food, financial, and case management services.

 

Moving Forward

Unrestricted & Trust-Based Funding

Fundamentally, funders — whether the government, foundations, community members, or corporations — must rethink funding practices to center trust, equity, and sustainability. From improving existing application processes to decreasing reporting requirements and providing unrestricted and general operating support, funders should evolve their models to bolster their support for organizations on the frontlines of GBV work.

Moreover, funding should address the findings stated above — shifting from only addressing violence in the short-term and at the interpersonal or familial level to addressing it as an issue that requires long-term, upstream, and structural support. Critical to the sustainability of the work is the growth of organizations and their staff, whose salaries, benefits, and well-being need to be supported by generous and sufficient funding.

Survivor & Community-Centered Policy

To enact sustainable and transformative change, the nuances and complexities of GBV in South Asian communities in the US must be elevated in policy conversations and agendas. 

South Asian survivors and organizations should be at the policymaking table so that their voices are centered in the creation of legislation and decision-making processes. Additionally, policymakers should pass policies that represent and respond to the needs of the South Asian populations within the US, alongside other immigrant and marginalized communities and communities of color.