Lower Divorce Rates Among Asian Americans: Good or bad?

Asian Americans experience a lower level of divorce compared to the general population.¹ 

Studies estimate that 5 – 6% of Asian American adults were currently separated or divorced compared to 10-12% of the U.S. population.²

Kung (Kathyrn) Dickerson, an Asian American divorce attorney, says this may be a bad thing. In the video below, she talks about the disturbing realities surrounding women who may be seeking separation or divorce but who--even if victims of domestic violence--are discouraged to pursue legal recourse because of language barriers and traditional cultural pressures.

While the stigma surrounding divorce may vary across cultures, domestic violence is wrong regardless of race, ethnicity, religion and culture. The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE(7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224 provides language translations for callers, which hopefully helps overcome at least one barrier.

¹U.S.Census
²Marc Silverstein, "Women Fear Divorce in Asian American Community", Onthemarcmedia.com
³National Domestic Violence Hotline