Anjana Nagarajan-Butaney

Immigrant women in the South Asian community have to overcome not just power imbalances within their relationships and culture, but also hidden imbalances in U.S. immigration and domestic law, which tilt control toward their husbands.

Locked out of her Fremont apartment after a domestic dispute turned violent, Priya huddled terrified in a corner of the hallway. Her new husband had thrown her outside without a blanket, after shoving her onto a sofa and breaking her arm.

In a unique storytelling project, survivors share deeply personal stories about their experience living with and surviving domestic violence.

The second of a three-part series for October’s Domestic Violence month, supported by the USC Center for Health Journalism in partnership with Desi Collective, Narika and India Currents.

The first of a three-part series for October’s Domestic Violence month, this story is part of a unique storytelling project “Chai with Sahelis.”