A GAP EXPOSED
A GAP EXPOSED

What Is Known About Sikh Victims of Domestic Violence Abuse (DVA) and Their Mental Health?

Summary/Abstract: There is emerging evidence that Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) has the potential to posea real threat to the Sikh community as it seeks to ensure that gender equality is embraced withinits religious practice. Nevertheless, the interface of domestic abuse and the distress it causes toSikh female victims in relation to their mental health is barely explored within UK academic literature.From the existing literature on DVA and South Asian women, what we do know is thatthere may be a denial of the issue within communities due to shame and family exposure. We areaware of the high rates of suicide and self-harm that is prevalent within the South Asian culture,something often attributed to inter-familiar conflict.The pioneering community-led British Sikh Report or BSR (British Sikh Report 2017) surveyed2000 Sikhs and found that seventy-two percent of Sikh-identifying males and females consideredthat violence and sexism affected British Sikh women’s lives. Notably, the type of violence wasnot particularised enough to be able to gain a full understanding and extent of the issue. A furthereighty-three percent of male and female participants felt that women should be provided mentalhealth support in Gurdwaras (temples). This grassroot report has been presented to Parliament andwas pioneered by local MP’s and is clearly topical in terms of study.To date, we are aware of no UK-based academic study that focuses on the experiences of Sikh victimsof abuse. This paper aims to extrapolate key generic studies on domestic abuse in the SouthAsian culture, in order to help formulate an initial understanding of issues involving domestic violenceand mental health as it impacts Sikh women in Britain. Further recommendations forresearch within this community are presented.

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