Human rights advocates hoped that it would presage a wider recognition of gender abuse.
Others, though, see the differing decisions as a sign that the agency is inching closer to acknowledging that gender abuse is a basis for asylum.
We wonder," they ask, "if such bullying is the first step on the path towards gender abuse which females in this region become accustomed to.
The issue of gender abuse and discrimination is exploited by political parties to appeal to their core vote, much like a travelling circus drums up an audience.
The two cases reflect the Immigration and Naturalization Service's latest attempts to reckon with one of its thorniest issues: how to deal consistently and fairly with the thousands of women who seek asylum for what is termed gender abuse.
"There are millions of women who could qualify for asylum if gender abuse alone is seen as enough to grant asylum," said Millicent Clarke, a former I.N.S. official and now a lawyer who represents asylum seekers.
In contrast, the lowest levels of distress for women were found to be related to the Emotional Punishment and Coercion factors, whereas in men, these were related to Sexual Abuse, Gender Abuse and Emotional Punishment.
I have spoken to health workers, gender experts, women's activists, and government officials on numerous issues - from the psychological reasons of "power and control" that lie behind gender abuse to the adverse impacts of the low status of women on India's development efforts.
With one woman being killed every week because of gender abuse, the promises to combat domestic violence have been at the forefront of this year's election.
"If today's boys are taught to question gender abuse now, they are less likely to be violent when they become men tomorrow," Ravi Verma, Asia director at ICRW, told Reuters.
