This research study locates the functioning of Seven South Asian domestic violence organizations within the secular liberal framework of U.S. I describe the various services provided, and attempt to explore the disconnect that often occurs between these services and the unique needs and contexts of the South Asian immigrant domestic violence victims when they seek help in the U.S. I do this by defining the secular- liberal framework, and a discussion on the “individuated self” by drawing from Brown (2006). Through un-structured telephone interviews and participant observation this descriptive study of services, provided by these organizations, reflects the innovative approaches that address the needs of the South Asian immigrant communities. However, I argue, these services don’t fall under the secular–liberal framework, since they are “irrational” and “non-liberal” in nature. Ultimately, I state that the liberal framework is inherently exclusionary and fails to capture the nuances and complexities of gender and culture in domestic violence resolution in the U.S. In conclusion, and for future research, I suggest exploring alternate ways of dealing with domestic violence through increased community engagement and deriving the various meanings and negotiations that are made within those communities. / text

Economic violence is a relatively unexplored subject even though it is often a part of occuring intimate partner violence. Therefore it is of concern to acknowledge how the swedish social services’ take part in this form of violence in their work. By law the swedish social services’ are the responsible authorities for victims of intimate partner violence to seek help and support. Although according to previous research on the subject, women feel like receiving help from the social services is not always an option for them. Women often feel powerless in meetings with a person of authority. This study aims to gain knowledge of the support given by the social services to women who are survivors of domestic abuse and further focus on economic abuse. There is also an understanding that non profit organizations (NGO’s) are a big contributor to helping survivors of domestic violence even though the law states the responsibility lays on a government body. Responsibility for the victims will therefore be another focus for further understanding of why NGO’s have taken on a helping role in society. A result from qualitative interviews on the subjects, with social workers from seven different municipalities, shows that there is a great variation between how social workers take on this kind of issue. The knowledge and experiences with handling cases of economic abuse vary between the different municipalities. Often the size of a municipality and lack of resources is a significant factor to what kind of help the municipality can offer. Working with and helping women who are survivors of economic abuse is complex. The social services and women shelters both work to help and try to find solutions for the problem.