at costi, we understand that hope means different things to different people. by filling people’s...
TRANSCRIPT
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At COSTI, we understand that hope means different things to different people. By filling people’s lives with hope, we’re helping build a strong and prosperous community. COSTI provides the means to a brighter future.
Focusing on Empowerment:
Lessons Learned from Working With Abused Women from
Ethnocultural Communities
Farishta Murzban DinshawCommunity Development Worker
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COSTI Immigrant Services
COSTI Immigrant Services is a community-based multicultural agency providing employment, educational, settlement and social services to all immigrant communities, new Canadians and individuals in need of assistance.
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COSTI Services
This presentation is informed by the work done through COSTI’s Family and Mental Health Services:
• ongoing information and education to ethnocultural communities on woman, child and elder abuse prevention
• culturally appropriate crisis counselling and support groups for women of Italian heritage
• treatment group for Spanish-speaking women who have experienced trauma
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Importance of Defining Violence
Cultural context of violence• “Husband’s right” part of patriarchy• Parenting style – “spare the rod and spoil
the child”• Women’s role as maintainers of family
honour
Controlling behaviours often not seen as violence, but as “protective” behavior
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Importance of Defining Violence Continued
Violent behaviour vs. abusive behaviour
• Violence often seen as physically harmful or intimidating behaviour; other forms not recognized
• Labeling forced sex within an intimate relationship as abuse important
• Recognizing controlling behaviour as abuse
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Additional dilemmas in defining violence
• Intent – is it abuse if the partner means to “protect honour of the family”?
• Frequency – is it abuse if the partner resorts to aggression when he “loses control” because he is drunk?
• Injury – is looking through partner’s personal belongings without permission abuse?
• Perspective – is it abuse if the earning partner makes financial decisions for the dependant partner?
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Vulnerable Women•First generation immigrants
• Sponsored family members• Family members of principal applicants• Economic immigrants
•Second generation women of colour•Refugee women•Live-in Caregivers•Undocumented women•Trafficked women
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What makes them vulnerable?
• Dependence on their spouse for status in Canada
• Financial dependency
• Isolation
• Absence of family support
• Unfamiliarity with the Canadian system
• Misconception that they will have to pay for services
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What makes them vulnerable?
• Lack of language skills, absence of professional interpretation and translation facilities
• May experience abuse for the first time
• General mistrust of authority based on experiences in their country of origin
Poverty, disability, sexual orientation
may be additional barriers.
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Service ContinuumP
re-c
risi
s P
reve
ntio
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Cri
sis
Inte
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tion
Pos
t-cr
isis
Sup
port
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Pre-Crisis Awareness and Prevention
Outreach
Empowerment
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Empowerment: Self-worth
Insidious social messages deplete women’s self-worth
Policy implications:
Programs and campaigns that:
• encourage positive body image
• illustrate healthy relationships
• provide opportunities to build support networks
• provide education so women can be financially self-sufficient
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Empowerment: Awareness
Many immigrant women are unfamiliar with their legal and constitutional rights in Canada
Policy Implications:
Practical rights-based awareness campaigns supported by corresponding services, adequate budgets and skilled ethno-linguistic service providers
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Empowerment: Access
Immigrant women have limited access to information, services and opportunities
Policy implications:• An analysis of systemic barriers• A concentrated outreach effort to reach women
who do not come to agencies• Recognition that provision of transit costs & child
care are significant to women accessing services
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Empowerment: Engagement
Immigrant women face barriers in participating to shape laws and policies, programs and services
Policy Implications:• Opportunities for volunteering in decision making
roles (school committees, boards)• Education about how the government works; voting• Education on voicing opinions (writing to MPs,
petitions, surveys)
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Contact Information
Farishta Dinshaw
Community Development Worker
COSTI Immigrant Services
1700 Wilson Avenue, Suite 105, PO Box 90
Toronto, ON M3L 1B2
Tel: 416-244-7714, Ext. 272