The Oppression of South Asian Women and Their Clinical Implications

In South Asia, where sons are preferred and prioritized over daughters, girls and women struggle simply to survive. Due to the patriarchal nature of the region, females are inherently disadvantaged throughout India and its surrounding countries, as gender inequality affect their basic human rights to life, education, health, and protection. Underpinned by Learned Helplessness Theory, this qualitative theoretical study focused on ten forms of oppression through male dominance, including sexual violence (the Devadasi system, child brides, female genital mutilation, and rape) discrimination (the dowry system and menstruation huts), and physical violence and murder (acid attacks, female gendercide, honor killings, and widow burnings). Clinical implications and culturally competent, cost-efficient options to encourage the safety and security of the women and girls of South Asia were also identified, as well as public policy and future research