Date of Award
5-10-2026
Date Published
June 2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Mass Communications
Advisor(s)
Carol Liebler
Keywords
Abolition Feminism;Asian & Asian American women;Domestic Violence Organizations;Domestic Violence Survivors;Participatory Communication
Subject Categories
Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
This dissertation explored the communication strategies that domestic violence organizations employ for Asian women survivors in the U.S., and how survivors perceive these communication strategies. Applying Abolition feminism and Participatory Communication frameworks, semi-structured in-depth interviews and an online survey were conducted to examine how these communication strategies reflect practices of care and healing, as well as survivor-centered communication for empowerment. Special attention was given to how community care is practiced through domestic violence organizations’ communication strategies across various sites, such as walk-in offices, community events, and social media, and how these strategies offer support while navigating the constraints of the carceral state. Considering the multiple challenges faced by Asian women in the U.S. who are domestic violence survivors, including language barriers, immigrant precarity, and cultural background, my findings identify both structural barriers and transformative strategies within communication between advocacy organizations and survivors. I propose a culturally responsive framework that: (1) ensures language access across intake processes and informational materials; (2) provides advocates who share cultural and linguistic backgrounds with awareness and knowledge about the community history, belief and struggles, and training that avoids in-group bias and assumptions; (3) utilizes ethnic media and community platforms (e.g., radio, TV, WeChat) for outreach rather than law enforcement referrals; and (4) actively engages in cultural events and community spaces through tabling and workshops.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Ni, Amanda, "Culturally Responsive Communication Beyond Cultural Essentialism? Language Access, Community-Based Outreach, and Law Enforcement Encounters in Domestic Violence Organizations’ Communication Strategies for Asian Women Survivors in the U.S." (2026). Dissertations - ALL. 2263.
https://surface.syr.edu/etd/2263
