“Knocking a Big, Heavy Metal Door”: Peer Advocate Leadership for Addressing Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault In Asian Immigrant Communities

Background: Although the Asian population in the United States is projected to reach 46 million by 2060 and is among the fastest-growing racial and ethnic groups, Asian immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault (DV/SA) remain understudied and underserved. They are less likely to utilize formal services, particularly when encountering unsupportive responses from informal networks. This underscores the need for interventions that shift harmful norms and facilitate help-seeking within survivors’ community contexts. This study examines Peer Advocate Leadership (PAL), a community-level intervention designed to increase informal support for DV/SA survivors in Asian immigrant communities. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory and Sense of Community Theory, PAL uses a peer-to-peer engagement model centered on a five-week training workshop series facilitated by multilingual community advocates from the communities they serve. The study addresses two research questions: (a) To what extent does PAL change participants’ knowledge and attitudes about DV/SA and their readiness to support survivors? (b) How do multilingual community advocates engage community members to transform harmful cultural practices and increase support for survivors?

Methods: This study was conducted in collaboration with an Illinois-based organization dedicated to ending DV/SA in Asian American communities, particularly among Korean, Mongolian, and Chinese populations. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining pre- and post-surveys and photovoice. Changes in PAL participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and readiness to support DV/SA survivors were assessed using online surveys administered via Qualtrics. Surveys included both closed- and open-ended questions and were available in five languages: English, Korean, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, and Mongolian, enhancing accessibility for diverse participants. Photovoice, a participatory action research method integrating photography and critical dialogue, was used to examine multilingual community advocates’ work with communities. One introductory session and three thematic sessions were conducted, focusing on community norms, support systems, and advocacy challenges. Participants were asked to take or select photos in advance of each session to facilitate reflection and discussion.

Results: A total of 89 individuals participated in the PAL program, with 49 completing both pre- and post-surveys. Among these participants, paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests indicated significant increases in two DV/SA knowledge measures (recognition of abuse and barriers to help-seeking), reductions in DV/SA myths, and improvements in readiness to support survivors. Knowledge related to definitions of sexual violence and age of consent remained consistently high before and after training, suggesting relatively strong baseline knowledge in these areas. A sensitivity analysis using multiple imputation with the full sample (N=89) yielded similar findings. Four multilingual community advocates participated in the photovoice component. Qualitative findings revealed persistent harmful cultural practices, including victim-blaming and rigid gender norms. Advocates also described strategies for community change, such as creating safe spaces through incremental engagement, challenging culturally embedded myths through education, and sustaining efforts through perseverance and collective resilience (e.g., “ajumma power”).

Discussion: This study contributes to the limited literature on culturally responsive DV/SA and bystander/upstander interventions in Asian American communities. Findings suggest that the peer-based, community-driven approach can effectively shift norms and strengthen supportive responses. Implications for practice and research are discussed.