Being Undocumented & Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): Multiple Vulnerabilities Through the Lens of Feminist Intersectionality

The 3.2 million undocumented women living in the U.S. today are among the most socially, economically and legally marginalized in our society, and subsequently the most vulnerable to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Intersecting factors of gender, ethnicity, and legal status expose undocumented women to multiplicative vulnerabilities and negative health effects. Isolation, fear of deportation, and limited access to social services both perpetuate IPV and prevent women from seeking help. While the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) legal reforms help abused immigrant women seek citizenship and safety, many barriers (emotional, financial, and logistical) still remain. Furthermore, the perpetual stress of being undocumented places women at increased biological risk for negative health effects. Clinician interventions include patient education, documentation, advocacy and further research