All throughout May, WTOP is聽marking Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month聽with stories about the people and places shaping the D.C. region.
According to the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender Based Violence, up to 55% of Asian women in the U.S. have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. That includes emotional, verbal, physical and economic abuse.
Domestic violence lawyer Becky Lee founded D.C. nonprofit Becky鈥檚 Fund in 2006, using the prize money she got after competing on the reality TV show 鈥淪urvivor.鈥� Becky鈥檚 Fund works to end domestic violence, and Lee said she wanted to be a voice for Asian American women.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a lot of that shame from living and growing up as an Asian, in terms of expectations of how we are perceived, and that pressure of making it in America and making your family proud,鈥� she said.
- Mapping Asian American history in the nation鈥檚 capital
- A mission that a group of Chinatown seniors carry out each month: Find traditional groceries
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According to Lee, Asian and Pacific Islander women have a difficult time addressing domestic violence because of that shame and stigma. The survivors she鈥檚 worked with have also had language barriers, fear of deportation or no financial independence.
鈥淚 think one of the saddest things was often working with older Korean women in Virginia,鈥� she said. The women would tell her, 鈥淚鈥檓 just waiting for this person to die because what am I going to do with my life when I leave? I don鈥檛 have a job.鈥�
Lee also talked about women who live with their husbands鈥� families, and an anonymous survey of API survivors in D.C. that showed 24.5 % of women were abused by their in-laws.
鈥淎nything that happens in our community that could leave a stain 鈥� we hide it, we cover it up,鈥� she said.
She emphasized the power of storytelling and speaking up. She said survivors should know they鈥檙e not alone, and abuse is not their fault.
鈥淚 think a big part of that is being able to share our voices and share our truth,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淪hame thrives in secrecy.鈥�
If you or someone you know needs help, Becky’s Fund has .
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