Speakers at the Women’s Forum --- including Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Amita Vyas of the South Asian American Public Health Association and Margaret Abraham of Sakhi for South Asian Women --- share their concerns and possible answers

CHICAGO : The Women Physicians’ Committee was in existence in an ad hoc form for many years before it was made a formal part of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in 1999. The AAPI has had just one woman-president in its 20-year history. Women physicians have had a similar struggle in bringing domestic violence to the podium at the women’s forum meeting at the 20th annual convention of the medical organization.

“We had to work hard to transform the ad hoc committee into a regular committee,” Sundara Kulkarni, past chair of the committee, told News India-Times.

“We know women physicians make up half of all physicians,” said co-chair of the Women Physicians’ committee Anisha Abraham. This year, she said, her committee took on the issue of domestic violence --- which has been a relatively new, controversial and politically-charged topic —- to the AAPI’s agenda for the convention.

“Domestic violence has been something we’ve been pushing this year, along with menopause, osteoporosis, as general social health issues. We think that consciousness developed here gets taken back to homes and patients, and the larger community,” said Dr. Prem Ramdev, chair of the Women Physicians Committee. She said Indian-American women were also not accessing health care needs such as regular mammograms and pap smears. “We want to reach the grassroots of Indian Americans,” Ramdev emphasized, and said that her committee had seven chapters spread over Boston, Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, and Tennessee.

She also said the committee was planning health fairs at temples and other community centers around the country.

“The Women’s Forum is not just for women. It is a place for women leaders to come forth and speak,” said Abraham.

Accordingly, they invited several well-known women activists and physicians to address this year’s convention. Those who addressed the meeting included Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, Dr. Nada Stotland of the Illinois Masonic Psychiatric Center, Margaret Abraham from Sakhi for South Asian Women, one of the oldest women’s grassroots organizations, and Amita Vyas, representing the South Asian American Public Health Association (SAAPHA). Some excerpts from their addresses:

“We are facing a demographic shift. Among immigrants from India between 1987 and 1990, only 80 percent had a high school education, 9 percent were unemployed, and 20 percent lived below the poverty line.” ---- Amita Vyas, South Asian American Public Health Association

AMITA VYAS: It is quite obvious that health is a concern for South Asian women in the United States, and yet, few women perceive themselves to be at risk for many health problems. Furthermore, our broader community often overlooks the health issues many South Asian women face. Although the health needs of South Asian women do not vary significantly from the general female population, it has been hypothesized, and supported by anecdotal data that our health-seeking behaviors are poor.

We have found that many South Asian women fear the establishment and authority. They are embarrassed of their self and body. They exhibit low self-esteem. Are isolated. (And) lack knowledge about health services available and preventive care...

Minority women have many cultural and societal issues that may prevent them from receiving adequate reproductive and sexual health care, which is an integral part of women’s lives throughout their entire life spans. Health, women’s bodies, and sexuality are neglected areas of discussion in the South Asian context, because they are embedded in traditional notions of secrecy and taboo. A community-based study in 2000 with 160 South Asian women in the Greater Boston area found that 40 percent of respondents reported physical, or sexual intimate partner violence, or the need for health services, as a result of intimate partner violence...

Another area of concern in our community is mental health —- and again an area that needs further study and investigation... Research has shown that South Asian Americans face several issues: Immigrant stressors, second-generation issues, intergenerational conflict, ethnic identity development, and experiencing prejudice and isolation... The Brown Paper outlines several recommendations as we look ahead to the health and well being of South-Asian Americans. First, reliable data must be collected for South Asians as an entire group. Second, more research on the health status, needs, and concerns of South Asians must be conducted. Third, culturally-appropriate outreach and education is required, including information on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various conditions as well as the range of health services available in their communities.

Traditionally, the South Asian American population has usually been viewed as an exceptionally-successful immigrant group... and, of this, we must be proud. However, the ‘model minority’ myth... is grounded in the notion that we are wealthy and healthy... continues to envelop our South-Asian American community... This causes many to dismiss the growing low-income segment of our community and must be eliminated.

We are facing a demographic shift. Among immigrants from India between 1987 and 1990, only 80 percent had a high school education, 9 percent were unemployed, and 20 percent lived below the poverty line. Furthermore, according to Families U.S.A., 21 percent of all South-Asian Americans lack health insurance, compared to the national average of 8 percent.

By 1997, South Asians represented 4 percent of the nation’s medical doctors. Clearly, we, as providers and researchers, are in a unique position to look to the future and address the health needs of our own community.

“We have to see it (domestic violence) as a public issue, a public health issue. We have to take a coordinated, comprehensive approach. AAPI is going to make a significant difference in this field.” ---- Margaret Abraham, Sakhi for South Asian Women

MARGARET ABRAHAM: South Asian women’s organizations intersected issues of ethnicity and gender. While issues of ethnicity were being addressed, women’s issues were not being addressed before.

Domestic violence was not being addressed in the 1980’s. The public image of the South Asian community was in terms of the model minority —- very good professionally and also with good family values. It was hard in this scenario to address these issues that would affect this image. Our model was male defined. Women became the main symbol of cultural continuity. She became responsible not only for family honor, but also ethnic community honor. South Asians are not unique in the area of domestic violence, but when we ignore, or paper over these, we don’t get the kind of services we require. Some manifestations of domestic violence are: (1) Isolation by spouse and family members; (2) Women are fiscally deprived, invisible to the community, with no bank account; (3) Sexual abuse, with abusers being not only family members, but also the community, the church, the police, etc. Women and men of South Asian origin face discrimination. We have to fight the image that the South Asian woman is subservient. Today, we have many South Asian womens’ organizations. We have to see it (domestic violence) as a public issue, a public health issue. We have to take a coordinated, comprehensive approach. AAPI is going to make a significant difference in this field.

“If the United Nations had more women, it would be a different place. I am sure if the U.S. had a woman president, the world would not be a race for arms, but a race for (eradicating) malnutrition.” ---- Sheila Dixit, chief minister, National Capital Territory of Delhi

SHEILA DIXIT: We in India are extremely proud of you and extremely happy that many of you (who) are educated in India, have done well for the land they have adopted, and also done well for the name of our country.

India lives in several centuries at the same time... from the most backward to the most forward. At the moment, we have three (woman) chief ministers, all elected. At the same time, we have a very high rate of illiteracy among women. Yet, women enjoy equal rights and equal pay, there are reservations for women from the 74th and 75th amendments (to the Constitution) passed 10 years ago, that gave political power at the lowest level --- 33 percent have to be women. That brought about a great change in India. There was a lot of skepticism about this when it happened. Was it a leap in the dark? Initially, the women who got elected did so because they had a father or brother or brothers-in-law pulling the strings. But now, these very women who were behind their veils, have become decision-makers in their own right. And 40 percent of the leaders at district and village level are women in their own right. They may not be educated women in the traditional sense. But (they) are women taking good decisions... implementing them...

Forgive me for speaking the home truths about what men have done for thousands of years. The 21st Century is going to belong to the women of the world. They do 70 percent of the work of the world, but it entitles them to barely half percent of the assets of the world. This kind of imbalance exists. Women have proved that wherever they are given responsibility, they have done better than men. In a world torn with strife, a traumatic change is taking place. There is equal opportunity but there is discrimination. When women are so vital for any society to develop, why this discrimination? Some doctors will even agree that women have the brawn. The problem is one of attitude... Women have accepted this role.

At the decision-making level, women are absent. If the United Nations had more women, it would be a different place. I am sure if the U.S. had a woman president, the world would not be a race for arms, but a race for (eradicating) malnutrition.