Date of Award

Fall 2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Administration (DPA)

Department

Public Policy and Administration

Committee Chairperson

Michelle Wade, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Kristen Crossney, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Allison Turner, Ph.D.

Abstract

African immigrant women’s harrowing experiences of gender based violence (GBV) is a violation of human rights and requires a systematic policy attention (USAID, 2012). The theoretical groundwork for this study is macro-oriented, utilizing the socio-cultural theories associating cultural acceptance and gender roles to incidents of violence against women. The connection between African immigrant women and socio-cultural theories is embedded in African social and cultural conditions typically encouraging the likelihood of domestic violence against the women. Governments are required to pursue policies towards appropriate domestic legal framework against GBV. This study investigated perceptions of African immigrant women in the northeastern, U.S. regarding policies and services against GBV in the U.S. to create a list of programs and services culturally sensitive to the African immigrant women to empower their human rights. The research design utilized a qualitative-quantitative simultaneous, mixed methods, and semi-structured interview protocol. SPSS assisted with analyzing data for patterns and trends. Data from the survey, the focus group, and the existing literature were corroborated to extend an understanding of the African immigrant women’s perspectives regarding the U.S. policies and services against GBV. Findings posit that African immigrant women in the northeastern, U.S. are not fully aware of the U.S. policies and services mitigating GBV and frown at calling law enforcement. Recommended in this study are culturally sensitive avenues for empowering their human rights.

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