Ethnic Minority Domestic Violence Survivors 
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“If I was sleeping in children's room, he wouldn't care that the children were sleeping. I couldn't scream or say anything."
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"Maureen was locked in room for 6 months. She didn't comment further."
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“She's held me up against doors by my throat. She'd think that I was seeing someone else or that I'd looked at someone in a certain way so she'd just grab me by my neck and hold me up against the wall."
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"The first time I went to hospital was when I was 6 months pregnant with his baby. He had kicked me in the stomach and strangled me."
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"She wouldn't take no for an answer. She just kept going on and on and on until I gave in because I was just getting migraines, headaches and stressed out.”
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“All the time, I had to do what he would say; where to go, what to do, how to talk. I had to be quiet and just answer questions...If I spoke, there would be big arguments."
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“During my pregnancy, one evening, he came home late and drunk. Dinner was ready. I asked him to join me but he was listening to his music. He passed me by, pushing me away and saying that I was in his way."
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“He made me have 2 abortions, pushed objects up me internally, force fed me, raped me several times, threatened to kill me by pointing guns in my face and he threatened to stab me with my own knives"
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“During our relationship, I asked his family for help but they never helped me.
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“At first I didn't even tell my best friend or my family. I felt ashamed of myself, being in such a horrible relationship."
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Ethnic Minority Domestic Violence Survivors
Artist Statement
"Ethnic Minority Domestic Violence Survivors is an on-going project for which research began at the end of 2008.
As an Indian, British-born female, I am aware of how domestic violence can often be accepted as a part of everyday life, especially so as not to bring “shame” upon the family name. I have discovered that the mentality of many ethnic minority women is to just accept and not question what happens to them.
Education and raising awareness could change this.
This project aims to raise awareness through representational portraits of ethnic minority women with text describing their experience.
These women suffered from domestic violence but have sought help and are now beginning their independent lives. Most women were met through refugees and domestic violence organisations. Some of these women still weren't ready emotionally or psychologically to speak about their experience and so were unable to participate fully.
Most women wanted full anonymity so photos had to be taken to represent them whilst hiding their identity. They were asked to choose an expressive part of the body which was then photographed, experimenting with the natural light available. Digital media was used to allow the women to see the photos immediately.
This made it possible for them to criticise and choose the images to be used. As some women in the refuges had no family or friends, this project provided an escape from the everyday life of the refuge, which could often be quite lonely."
Sonalle
http://www.sonalle.com
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