Forced Dependency and Legal Barriers: Implications of the UK’s Immigration and Social Security Policies for Minoritized Women Living in Abusive Intimate Relationships in Northern Ireland
Keywords:
Domestic violence, immigration, social security, ethnic minorities, forced dependency, Violencia doméstica, inmigración, seguridad social, minorías étnicas, dependencia forzosaAbstract
This paper examines the complexities of the help-seeking process of minoritized women (primarily asylum-seekers and immigrants) experiencing domestic violence in Northern Ireland. The term ‘minoritized’ is used here to emphasize that “minority” status is not a static or innate trait of certain groups but instead is the outcome of a process of being positioned as a minority. The paper addresses the intersections of ethnicity, nationality, class and gender and shows how state policies in relation to immigration and social security reinforce inequalities in gendered power relations. Despite attempts to improve the social security and immigration systems, the findings from a Northern Ireland study show how recent policy changes have not addressed the systemic institutional racism and institutionalised patriarchy in these agencies. Where avenues for action are undermined by such practices, the policies raise concerns about the safety and protection of minoritized women living in abusive relationships. We argue that the UK is failing to meet its human rights responsibilities to provide adequate support and assistance to minoritized women in abusive relationships and conclude that delivering state accountability alongside a human rights framework based on security, autonomy, liberty and equality is what is needed.
Este artículo analiza las complejidades del proceso de búsqueda de ayuda en Irlanda del Norte para mujeres pertenecientes a minorías (principalmente solicitantes de asilo e inmigrantes) que sufren violencia doméstica. El término 'minoritarizadas' se utiliza aquí para hacer hincapié en que la situación de "minoría" no es un rasgo estático o innato de ciertos grupos, sino que es el resultado de un proceso de ser posicionado como una minoría. El artículo aborda las intersecciones de origen étnico, nacionalidad, clase y género y muestra cómo las políticas estatales en relación a la inmigración y la seguridad social refuerzan las desigualdades en las relaciones de poder desde una perspectiva de género. A pesar de los intentos de mejorar los sistemas de seguridad social e inmigración, los resultados de un estudio de Irlanda del Norte demuestran que los cambios políticos recientes no han abordado el racismo institucional sistémico y el patriarcado institucionalizado en estos organismos. Estas prácticas debilitan las vías de acción emprendidas, sin embargo, las políticas generan interés sobre la seguridad y protección de mujeres pertenecientes a minorías que sufren abusos en sus relaciones. Se sostiene que el Reino Unido no está cumpliendo su responsabilidad de defender los derechos humanos para proporcionar apoyo y asistencia adecuada a estas mujeres que sufren relaciones abusivas y se llega a la conclusión de que es necesario ofrecer una responsabilidad estatal dentro del marco de los derechos humanos, basado en la seguridad, autonomía, libertad e igualdad.
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