The National Alliance of Intimate Violence: Experiences of Tyranny and Domestic Violence impacting Middle Eastern and North African Women in the United States
Location
Ponderosa Room A
Presentation Type
Presentation
Presentation Topic
Middle East, Domestic Violence, Policy Reform, Gender Studies, Race, Class
Start Date
6-3-2026 11:15 AM
Event Sort Order
21
Abstract
Domestic violence is not a hidden private issue; it is a public crisis that devastates lives, erodes communities, and exposes the inequalities embedded within culture, politics, and law. Existing literature has thoroughly documented the prevalence and harms of intimate partner violence, yet too often it treats women’s experiences as immovable. My research seeks to challenge this by placing intersectionality at the center, examining how race, culture, and systemic barriers uniquely shape the experiences of Middle Eastern and North African women in the United States. My work investigates critical questions that remain underexplored in today's literature: How do cultural stigmas and community expectations influence reporting and recovery among minority survivors? To what extent do systemic issues—such as racial profiling, language barriers, or fear of deportation—prevent survivors from accessing legal and health resources? What role should governments play in reshaping community attitudes and dismantling cycles of silence? I also explore how economic empowerment—through access to jobs, education, and financial independence—can shift dynamics of vulnerability and resilience. Finally, I ask what lessons can be drawn from countries that have successfully reduced domestic violence rates, and how these strategies might be adapted across diverse cultural contexts. My contribution lies in reinterpreting domestic violence not only as interpersonal abuse but as a structural injustice. By centering marginalized voices and integrating comparative perspectives, I argue for bold reforms that demand survivor-centered justice, culturally responsive resources, and community accountability. Ending domestic violence requires more than intervention; it demands a reimagining of justice, culture, and power, so that every survivor’s voice shapes a more equitable future.
The National Alliance of Intimate Violence: Experiences of Tyranny and Domestic Violence impacting Middle Eastern and North African Women in the United States
Ponderosa Room A
Domestic violence is not a hidden private issue; it is a public crisis that devastates lives, erodes communities, and exposes the inequalities embedded within culture, politics, and law. Existing literature has thoroughly documented the prevalence and harms of intimate partner violence, yet too often it treats women’s experiences as immovable. My research seeks to challenge this by placing intersectionality at the center, examining how race, culture, and systemic barriers uniquely shape the experiences of Middle Eastern and North African women in the United States. My work investigates critical questions that remain underexplored in today's literature: How do cultural stigmas and community expectations influence reporting and recovery among minority survivors? To what extent do systemic issues—such as racial profiling, language barriers, or fear of deportation—prevent survivors from accessing legal and health resources? What role should governments play in reshaping community attitudes and dismantling cycles of silence? I also explore how economic empowerment—through access to jobs, education, and financial independence—can shift dynamics of vulnerability and resilience. Finally, I ask what lessons can be drawn from countries that have successfully reduced domestic violence rates, and how these strategies might be adapted across diverse cultural contexts. My contribution lies in reinterpreting domestic violence not only as interpersonal abuse but as a structural injustice. By centering marginalized voices and integrating comparative perspectives, I argue for bold reforms that demand survivor-centered justice, culturally responsive resources, and community accountability. Ending domestic violence requires more than intervention; it demands a reimagining of justice, culture, and power, so that every survivor’s voice shapes a more equitable future.
Presenter Bio
SueRae O'Bleness is an undergraduate student at the University of Central Oklahoma, studying Political Science, Women's Gender Sexuality Studies, International Relations, and French Language. She is a sexual health ambassador and Palestinian researcher, who also works as the Director of research and Director of communications for an international relations and political science organization. She spends her very little free time researching, reading, and advocating. She is an active senator for her university's student body and is extremely passionate about speaking up for minority voices. SueRae has been accepted into three upcoming, national conferences to present her research; she recently presented at the 10th annual international Women's Gender Sexuality Studies conference, in October 2025. Fun fact, SueRae is studying abroad in the south of France this summer!