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  • SAN’S 35th Annual Soirée

Sexual Assault Awareness Month: The Prevalence of Sexual Violence in the South Asian Community

April 1, 2022 by South Asian Network

 TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

BY CYNTHIA CHOCKALINGAM, CIVIL RIGHTS UNIT INTERN AT SAN

The South Asian culture is one that has taught us to be silent in our suffering; it has taught us that there is nothing more important than being selfless. This selflessness leads us to being caught in a culture where gender and sexuality issues go almost completely unaddressed. There’s a taboo in even approaching such issues as they risk the family’s “reputation,” so girls are taught to be selfless in valuing their families over themselves. This taboo results in further suffering to victims and the relationships they have with their families and those around them. In many South Asian communities, victims are silenced and left without help. 

Even more so, members of the LGBTQ+ South Asian community face even more sexual attacks, yet they receive even less attention. A study conducted in the New York State region—-led by professors and individuals affiliated with New York University—consisting of 385 18 to 34 year-olds that are South Asian Americans quantified some disparities between these different communities. 24.1% of the surveyed individuals identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Members of the queer community were more likely to be raped multiple times, quantifying that 17.2% of the South Asian American queer community experienced rape multiple times—compared to 9.6% of their heterosexual counterparts. Consequentially, sexual minorities had higher odds of depression.

Nonetheless, I must acknowledge the progress the South Asian American community has made in acknowledging sexual assault within American society. Body Evidence: Intimate Violence Against South Asian Women in America is a book edited by Shamita Das Dasgupta that examines violence women face in South Asian American communities. Since the 1990s, around 25 South Asian community-based organizations have been established that are rooted in anti-domestic violence work. However, Sagarika Gami at Pomona College counters that these organizations primarily only solve individual problems while sexual violence in the South Asian American community is systemic; therefore, there must be a collective, systemic solution. Shamita Das Dasgupta argues that lots of the stigma surrounding sexual violence in South Asian American communities is heavily tied to the Model Minority Myth; I would agree with this. 

The model minority myth is a construct and a set of stereotypes framing Asians, including South Asians, as the “ideal” minority that works hard and does not challenge the status quo. The University of Texas at Austin explains that most Asian-Americans are placed into this category called “model minorities” essentially meaning they are perfect, successful, and what every minority should aim to be. The cultural expectations include being naturally “smart,” wealthy, hard-working, submissive and obedient, uncomplaining, and self-reliant. They live the “American Dream.” Vivian Biwei Huang at UCLA

✎ EditSign explains Asian American students often hide their personal problems and struggles compared to other demographics because they do not want to stray from this “good” stereotype where Asians and Asian-Americans are “perfect.” Ultimately, the myth is destructive for all parties. Many Asians and Asian Americans in the United States uphold these stereotypes and ideals out of safety and self-preservation. South Asians in this community live by keeping our heads down and staying out of the way, and we can survive. Consequently, victims of sexual violence are told to keep quiet to keep from causing disruption. While it is understandable that parents want nothing more than for their children to be able to succeed, the trauma left behind by sexual violence—especially untreated and unacknowledged trauma—prohibits many from growing and reaching their full potential. 

The number of victims in our South Asian American community is significant, and they cannot keep being ignored. The Asian Pacific Institute on Gender Based Violence helps quantify how large this problem is: “Of API women, 23% experienced some form of contact sexual violence, 10% experienced completed or attempted rape, and 21% had non-contact unwanted sexual experiences during their lifetime.” Further, “64% of Indian and Pakistani women had experienced sexual violence by an intimate in a study of 143 domestic violence survivors.” They also quantify, “50% of Indian and Pakistani abused women reported being stalked by an intimate partner.” These actions are surrounded by a culture that gives ground to violence. In fact, the institute states, “79% of South Asians…reported being hit regularly as children.” When violence is treated as normal from a young age, a South Asian woman who faces violence as an adult is less inclined to report it and prevent it from happening again. 

Concepts of “honor” and “shame” keep members of the South Asian American community from discussing situations of sexual violence—these patriarchal norms and values are prevalent in South Asian communities around the world. Consequently, as a community, we have overlooked this issue for quite some time. Despite these situations being prevalent for generations, we have been unable to address them due to the stigma surrounding these conversations; we then pay the price. Members of our own community continue to become victims with no light or solution in sight. 

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South Asian Network

southasiannetwork

Geared towards serving, supporting, uplifting, and educating Southern California's South Asian community

Grateful for the vibrant turnout at our Community Grateful for the vibrant turnout at our Community Health Fair! 🌟

We’re filled with gratitude for the incredible energy and support from everyone who joined us. Fom community members to volunteers, partners, and wellness advocates. Your presence made this event not only possible, but deeply meaningful.

Events like these are about more than services, they’re about connection, empowerment, and equity. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier community! and this is just the beginning. We can’t wait to see you again next year! 🤗💪

#SouthAsianNetwork #CommunityHealth #HealthEquity #WellnessForAll #PublicHealthMatters #StrongerTogether #HealthyCommunities #southasianwellnessandhealth
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! Join us on May 9, 2025 for a po KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!

Join us on May 9, 2025 for a powerful evening with the UCLA Labor Center to learn about your workplace rights, how to protect yourself and your coworkers, and the resources available to support you!

Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: 154 S Vermont Ave, LA, CA 90004
FREE & OPEN TO ALL!

Presented by @southasiannetwork + @uclalabor 
Questions? Contact us: 562-403-0488 | saninfo@southasiannetwork.org

#KnowYourRights #WorkersRights #CommunityEmpowerment #SouthAsianNetwork #UCLALaborCenter #APALA #LosAngelesEvents
Get ready, LA! SAN’s 35th Annual Soiree is goin Get ready, LA!

SAN’s 35th Annual Soiree is going down this Thursday, May 8 at 6 PM!

An evening of culture, community, and celebration — Serving & Empowering with Radical Love.

Grab your tickets now: www.tinyurl.com/sansoiree

#SANSoiree #RadicalLove #SpiceUpYourNight #SouthAsianNetwork #CommunityWithFlavor #ServingEmpowerment #CulturalCelebration #NaanStopFun #DesiVibes #SoireeSeason #LAEvents #CelebrateCommunity
IFFLA is lighting up Landmark Theatres Sunset with IFFLA is lighting up Landmark Theatres Sunset with the very best in South Asian cinema and its vibrant diasporas! 

Expect world premieres, star-studded galas, Industry Days packed with panels, masterclasses, a pitch competition, networking, and so much more.

We’re thrilled to share that SAN is a proud community partner this year! Join us in celebrating powerful stories, brilliant artists, and the beauty of South Asian storytelling on the big screen.

Passes and tickets are on sale now at indianfilmfestival.org, don’t miss out on this unforgettable week!

#IFFLA2025 #SouthAsianCinema #IndianFilmFestival #southasianrepresentation #indiefilm #southasiannetwork #nonprofit #communitypartner
We’re so excited to celebrate SAN’s 35th Annua We’re so excited to celebrate SAN’s 35th Annual Soirée this Thursday, May 8 at 6 PM at the Terasaki Budokan!

Join us for a powerful evening of serving & empowering with radical love, featuring live performances and community celebration.

Endless gratitude to our incredible collaborators, performers, volunteers, and supporters, this night wouldn’t be possible without you.

Let’s celebrate together.

Get your tickets: www.tinyurl.com/sansoiree
#SANSoiree #SouthAsianNetwork #RadicalLove #CommunityPower #CelebrateWithSAN
Enjoy FREE outdoor classes in: • Yoga at 11:30 Enjoy FREE outdoor classes in:

• Yoga at 11:30 AM by VedicAyurYoga
• Pilates at 1 PM by @clubpilates_cerritos 
• Miracle of Mind Meditation at 3 PM by @isha.foundation 

Come move, breathe, and recharge with us, all are welcome!

The South Asian Network invites you to our Community Health Fair on Sunday, May 4, 2025, from 11 AM – 4 PM at the Albert O. Little Community Center in Artesia!

#SANHealthFair #FreeWellnessClasses #CommunityCare #YogaPilatesMeditation #SouthAsianNetwork #ArtesiaEvents
RAFFLE PRIZE TRIO! 🎟️ We’ve got 3 amazing RAFFLE PRIZE TRIO! 🎟️

We’ve got 3 amazing prizes waiting for you at the Health Fair:
⌚ Fitbit – Track your steps, sleep & heart health
💧 Owala Water Bottle – Stylish, spill-proof hydration on the go
🥦 $100 Sprouts Gift Card – Stock up on fresh, healthy groceries

🎟️ Come by, enter the raffle, and win your way to wellness!

It’s FREE to enter, and your chance to take home something great!
MAY 4 2025, ALBERT O. LITTLE COMMUNITY CENTER 

#HealthFair2025 #WinWellness #FitbitWin #OwalaLife #SproutsShopping #RaffleReady
We’re Building Something Beautiful Together! We We’re Building Something Beautiful Together!

We’re proud to partner with these amazing community organizations and sponsors for our  Health Fair happening TOMORROW, SUNDAY MAY 4 2025! 

Their support makes it possible to bring vital health resources, wellness activities, and community connection to the South Asian community.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned, you won’t want to miss this!

#SouthAsianNetwork #HealthFair2025 #CommunityCare #WellnessForAll #SANpartners #StrongerTogether
Just 2 days to go! Join us at the Health Fair fo Just 2 days to go! 

Join us at the Health Fair for a day dedicated to YOU and your well-being. From free health screenings and resources to PILATES, YOGA AND MEDITATION classes, there’s something for everyone. 

Bring your friends and family and take a positive step toward a healthier future. 

We can’t wait to see you there🩵

Date: Saturday, May 4, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Albert O. Little Community Center

#southasiannetwork #southasiannonprofit #nonprofit #southasianvoices #health #fair #artesia
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We stand April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We stand with survivors, speak out against violence, and work every day to create safer communities. 

Awareness is the first step, Action is the next. 

#SAAM #SupportSurvivors #SAN #AWAZ #VoicesAgainstViolence #sexualassaultawareness
Your health. Your community. All in one place and Your health. Your community. All in one place and it’s FREE!
Join us at SAN’s Community Health Fair for a day of wellness, healing, and connection.

Enjoy:
• Free Yoga & Club Pilates classes
• A transformative session with Miracle of Mind
• Free health screenings & resources
• Giveaways and more!

When: Saturday, May 4 | 11 AM – 4 PM
Where: Albert O. Little Community Center, Artesia

Let’s move, breathe, and thrive together.

#SANHealthFair #FreeWellness #Yoga #ClubPilates #MiracleOfMind #SouthAsianHealth #CommunityCare #SouthAsianNetwork
We’re proud to recognize Puneet, a dedicated emp We’re proud to recognize Puneet, a dedicated employment law attorney and trusted advisor to non-profits like SAN.

A past President of the South Asian Bar Association Foundation, Puneet has long championed public interest work that uplifts and empowers the South Asian community across Southern California.

Thank you, Puneet, for your leadership, advocacy, and commitment to justice!

#SANSoiree #CommunityLeader #SouthAsianBarAssociation #PublicInterestLaw #SouthAsianNetwork #LegalAdvocate
Meet our Trailblazer Honoree at SAN’s 35th Soire Meet our Trailblazer Honoree at SAN’s 35th Soiree: Nithya Raman!

As one of the first South Asian women elected to the LA City Council, Nithya is changing the game in city leadership. A dedicated urban planner and activist, she’s bridging communities and pushing policies that uplift marginalized voices.

Celebrate her impactful leadership with us on May 8 at 6 PM!

Tickets: www.tinyurl.com/SANsoiree

#SANSoiree #Trailblazer #NithyaRaman #CityCouncil #SouthAsianLeadership #Changemaker #SouthAsianNetwork
We’re proud to honor Ahilan Arulanantham as a Ju We’re proud to honor Ahilan Arulanantham as a Justice Advocate at SAN’s 35th Soiree!

Ahilan is a powerhouse in the fight for immigrants’ rights, serving as Co-Director of the Center for Immigration Law & Policy at UCLA and a longtime leader at the ACLU of Southern California. His work has shaped justice for countless communities across the nation.

Join us as we celebrate his incredible contributions on May 8 at 6 PM!

Tickets: www.tinyurl.com/SANsoiree

#SANSoiree #JusticeAdvocate #AhilanArulanantham #HumanRights #ImmigrantJustice #SouthAsianNetwork
Join us for a powerful panel discussion with autho Join us for a powerful panel discussion with author Monisha Das Gupta and community organizers as we dive into “All of Us or None: Migrant Organizing in an Era of Deportation and Dispossession.”

Date: May 3rd
Time: 4–6 PM
Location: Bangladeshi Community Development Center, 154 S Vermont Ave LA, CA 90004
Free parking & refreshments provided!

In conversation with Isaac Barrera, Marcela Hernandez, Hamid Khan, Johnathan Perez, Mariella Saba, Preeti Sharma, and Monisha Das Gupta.

Don’t miss it!
Co-sponsored by South Asian Network, UCLA Asian American Studies Center, and Khmer Girls in Action.

#AllOfUsOrNone #MigrantJustice #CommunityOrganizing #BookDiscussion #SouthAsianNetwork #nonprofit #southasiannonprofit
Mark your calendars! Join us for SAN’s 35th Annu Mark your calendars! Join us for SAN’s 35th Annual Soirée on Thursday, May 8 at 6 PM, an unforgettable evening celebrating community, culture, and connection.

Enjoy a curated menu by Badmaash, drinks from One Hope Wines, mocktails by Optimist Botanicals, karak chai by Friday Gallery, and sounds by ThatIndianDJ.

Hosted by the amazing Sundeep Morrison, with performances from Adya Mohanty, Shiv Nadkarni x Neel Agrawal, and Keenar.

All ticket proceeds support SAN’s vital fundraising efforts. Come party with purpose!

#SANSoirée #SouthAsianNetwork #CommunityEvent #SupportSAN #CulturalCelebration
Happy Easter from all of us at SAN! Wishing you a Happy Easter from all of us at SAN!

Wishing you a joyful day filled with love, renewal, and sweet moments with your loved ones.

#HappyEaster #SpringVibes #SANCommunity #Easter #southasiannetwork #nonprofit #southasians #community
Get ready to be transported through sound! We’re Get ready to be transported through sound!
We’re thrilled to spotlight KEENAR at SAN’s 35th Soiree - a powerhouse collective blending North/South Indian music, West African rhythms, Persian melodies, jazz, fusion & more.

This group is a musical journey you won’t forget 🩵

May 8 | 6:00 PM

Tickets: www.tinyurl.com/sansoiree

#SANSoiree #KEENARLive #SouthAsianNetwork #FusionMusic #LiveMusicMagic#southasiannetwork #southasiannonprofit #nonprofit #southasianvoices #san #sansoiree
Join us as Adya Mohanty graces the stage with soul Join us as Adya Mohanty graces the stage with soulful vocals that honor the legacy of  South Asian and South Asian American artists. 

Experience a night of radical love, community, and liberation at SAN’s 35th Soiree, May 8 at 6PM.

Tickets: www.tinyurl.com/sansoiree

#SouthAsianNetwork #CommunityThroughArt
#CelebrateCulture #Soiree35 #TogetherWeRise #RadicalLove #nonprofits 
#southasiannetwork #southasiannonprofit #nonprofit #southasianvoices
Spotlight on Soirée Artists Get ready to witness Spotlight on Soirée Artists

Get ready to witness something truly special at SAN’s 35th Anniversary Soirée!

Shiv Nadkarni x Neel Agrawal are blending the classical rhythms of Kathak with powerful, cross-cultural instrumentation—fusing East and West to create a one-of-a-kind immersive experience.
Through movement and music, they’ll reshape tradition, evoke emotion, and blur boundaries.

Catch the magic LIVE on May 8 at 6PM!

Grab your tickets: www.tinyurl.com/sansoiree

#SANSoiree #SouthAsianNetwork #KathakFusion #LivePerformance #ArtistSpotlight #CulturalFusion
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18173 Pioneer Blvd., Suite “I”, Artesia, CA 90701
Phone: 562-403-0488 • E-mail: saninfo@southasiannetwork.org
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