Patriarchy’s Link to Intimate Partner Violence: Applications to Survivors’ Asylum Claims

Authors

Daniel G. Saunders, University of Michigan, School of Social WorkFollow
Tina Jiwatram-Negrón, Arizona State University, School of Social WorkFollow
Natalie Nanasi, Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of LawFollow
Iris Cardenas, Rutgers University, School of Social WorkFollow

ORCID (Links to author’s additional scholarship at ORCID.org)

Daniel G. Saunders: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0686-2595

Natalie Nanasi: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5524-4921

Tina Jiwatram-Negrón: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8720-6102

Abstract

Eligibility for asylum for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been contested. We summarize social science evidence to show how such survivors generally meet asylum criteria. Studies consistently show a relationship between patriarchal factors and IPV, thereby establishing a key asylum criterion that women are being persecuted because of their status as women. Empirical support is also provided for other asylum criteria, specifically: patriarchal norms contribute to state actors’ unwillingness to protect survivors, and survivors’ political opinions are linked to an escalation of perpetrators’ violence. The findings have implications for policy reform and supporting individual asylum-seekers.

Publication Title

Violence Against Women

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Patriarchy, Asylum, Intimate Partner Violence, Sexism

Recommended Citation

Daniel G. Saunders, Tina Jiwatram-Negrón, Natalie Nanasi, & Iris Cardenas, Patriarchy’s Link to Intimate Partner Violence: Applications to Survivors’ Asylum Claims, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (forthcoming 2022) (accepted for publication (in press)).