Abstract:

"Domestic violence largely remains a secret among many families, rich and poor. Not only does fear, economic dependence and social pressures perpetuate it--but cultural barriers also play a factor. This program portrays the life of a young Asian American woman as she struggles to break away from the cycle of violence in an abusive marriage. In the story, Jeanette Kim seeks refuge in a multicultural women's shelter after her husband's violence puts her in the hospital. In the shelter, Kim learns about her legal options and comes to understand how the cycle of abuse works. She also deals with a painful rejection by her parents and discovers that her father was also an abuser. Eventually, she finds the strength to testify against her own husband in court and begin a new life on her own. The drama raises many key issues battered women face such as the emotional and financial difficulties of leaving an abusive husband, the risk that their husbands may eventually kill them and a culture's acceptance of wife-beating." Also available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese.