Silence beneath the surface: Examining intersectional sexual violence among Asian immigrant women

Asian women experience high levels of sexual violence, yet are less likely to disclose or formally report compared to any other racial/ethnic group. The objective of this study is to examine the intersectional factors that contribute to sexual violence and silence among Asian immigrant women. Guided by intersectionality and using community-based participatory research methods, we conducted 62 life history interviews with Chinese, Korean, Indian, and Filipino immigrant women in Los Angeles, California and Atlanta, Georgia of varying legal statuses. This study fills important gaps in the literature by examining how silence surrounding sexual violence is produced, maintained, and reinforced through intersecting factors among Asian immigrants. The study found that silence regarding sexual violence was produced by: 1) childhood experience of violence and migration; 2) learning silence through early socialization; 3) gendered norms; and 4) normalization of sexual violence. Once participants disclosed to family, friends, or formally reported, silence was often maintained and reinforced through: 1) familial encouragement to maintain silence; 2) inadequate healthcare systems; and 3) inadequate institutional response. Our findings suggest that sexual violence was extremely common, even normalized, yet only a small fraction disclosed to anyone, and an even smaller number formally reported the incident to authorities. Healthcare and policy implications are discussed including the need for immigration-informed care, trauma-informed education and safe reporting mechanisms.