Imagining education: Indian Australian female domestic violence victim-survivors’ and professionals’ understandings

Mrs Amarpreet Abraham1

1Monash University, Clayton , Australia

Since 2012, 280 Indian Nationals have obtained visas under the special family violence provisions of the migration law. Professionals postulate that this is only the tip of the iceberg with many Indian and Indian-Australian women continuing to experience domestic and family violence. In this research, I explore the experiences and understandings of Indian and Indian-Australian women within the frame of Vygotsky’s notion of the More Knowledgeable Others (MKOs). In my inductive case study, I provide a space for participant voice and the telling of their stories. I have undertaken qualitative case studies to gather data, primarily via 8 semi-structured interviews with the MKOs. Data were analysed thematically, employing the approach of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. My initial findings reveal coercive control and exploitation, hegemonic patriarchy, financial, physical, sexual abuse and dowry abuse. The implications of my research address increasing awareness of the experiences of domestic violence amongst Indian-Australian women, which will inform social attitudes and understanding and political policy, and support agency. Through the sharing of stories, I aim to elevate the possibilities of victim-survivors finding MKOs who understand and recognise the tradition of cultural-historical frameworks in which Indian and Indian-Australian women go through marriage and domestic violence.


Biography:

Amar is a PhD student at Monash University, Victoria examining the experiences of domestic violence amongst Indian-Australian women and the role of More Knowledgeable Others.