Asylum for Battered Women?

An editorial writer for the New York Times wrote a piece on July 18th discussing the need and availability of asylum for women who have been sexually or physically abused.

We always hear about the inferiority of women in other countries, treated as property and such, with little to no respect or care. By definition, an asylum is an institution for the care of people, especially those with physical or mental impairments, or in this case, a place offering protection and safety; a shelter. In regards to this definition, abused women definitely have rights, but, as stated in this editorial, our United States laws limit asylum to people who suffer because of their "race, religion, nationality, political opinion or 'membership in a particular social group.'”

I find it a bit ridiculous that this issue has remained fairly stable throughout both the Clinton and Bush administrations, with hardly any improvements. Under the new Obama administration, however, some victims may qualify for this "shelter," once able to prove that, in her home country, domestic violence was tolerated.

Though not all victims of domestic violence will be accepted, this article seems to have been written in hopes of raising awareness among the nation. The more people realize the severity of a situation, the more likely the situation is to change.