Culturological Assessment of Domestic Violence - Essay Example

Culturological Assessment of Domestic Violence Against Hispanic Women Culturological Assessment of Domestic ViolenceAgainst Hispanic Women The recurring incidence of domestic violence in this country is alarming, particularly among Hispanic women. In fact, studies show that "[i]ntimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem in the U.S." (Caetano 661) The expression of violence, particularly in the sense of domestic or intimate partners, is not merely a nebulous use of force. Rather, it encompasses not only a physical act of aggression, but also coercive behavior that includes psychological or emotional abuse extending to "threats against personal property, pets, and other family members; destruction of belongings; and the imposition and exploitation of economic dependence." (Frias 552) While present at all levels of social, economic, and ethnic class, Hispanic women are at an elevated risk for such behavior. (Powell 1) The purpose of this paper is to evaluate three aspects of domestic violence as it relates to Latinas. A review of the broad societal issues inherent within this ethnic community, an idea of some of the specific reasons why Hispanic women will stay in an abusive relationship, and a look at a few of the cultural values that make this segment of the population particularly vulnerable will yield insight into the problem and its intricate components. To gain a more complete understanding of the domestic violence plague faced by women in the Hispanic community, it is important to understand the broad contributory issues specific to the Latin community at large. Without over-simplifying the factors that contribute to domestic violence perpetrated against Hispanic women, there are three general segments of social integration which are understood to pre-condition these women to a higher risk of incidence of abuse; acculturation, citizenship status, and economic condition. Acculturation is the process of acquiring the different traits and social patterns reflected in the new society. It is the natural human adaptation to a different environment. We know that the "process of acculturation to American values and norms is an important factor influencing help-seeking behavior." (Yoshioka 172) Other studies suggest that this progression of acclimating to a foreign atmosphere "has been found to affect the risk of partner violence." (Frias 554) The course of adjusting to a new society is particularly fraught with hazard for Hispanic women. Whether it is the challenge of learning a new language or developing a sense of belonging, the degree to which an individual has been assimilated into her surroundings impacts her ability to respond to a crisis, particularly one of violence in her home. The calculus is fairly straightforward; the more comfortable a woman is within her new world, the better equipped she is to deal with the adverse circumstances into which domestic abuse thrusts her. Surprisingly, the citizenship status of individuals has a direct bearing upon the frequency and severity of domestic violence. Generally, it is clear to the casual observer that non-citizens "have taken enormous risks and...continue to be threatened daily with a fear of deportation and the ever-looming presence of the INS." (Community Partnership 1) The stress associated with large-scale disruption of life and home can easily contribute to an environment of hostility between domestic partners. Specifically, studies show that "immigrant women who arrived before the age of 15 are at a higher risk of partner violence." (Frias 561) While the minutiae of various causes of this phenomenon may be debated, citizenship status appears to impact the resolve of these women to end the domestic abuse cycle. It could be posited that once citizenship is established, there is an emotional ownership of the new country that reduces a woman's willingness to tolerate abuse in the home. The economic situation of Hispanic women also has a role to play in domestic violence. Frias, quoting other studies, states that "Hispanic women are at elevated risk of chronic poverty, which creates stress that can place minority women at elevated risk of violence." (Frias 553) It isn't enough to recognize that poverty places such individuals in danger. These economic factors will only be properly obviated through individual empowerment, and not "programs...that offer temporary relief...but do not provide women with the tools...as well as the monetary and emotional resources to gain control of their lives permanently." (Community Partnership 4) In the context of these broad issues, the question of why these women choose to stay in an abusive relationship comes to bear. While impossible to treat comprehensively in this forum, that question finds its answer in the dynamic of the nature of Hispanic women, themselves. Often, they instinctively place a higher value on the general well-being of their families rather than their own needs, they regularly have an extended family support system that includes their partner's relatives, and they are generally unaware of the remedies available to them when domestic abuse occurs. For many Hispanic women, the family comes first. To the traditional Latina, this may include "remember[ing] her place as a women; being responsible for passing on cultural traditions; putting other's (sic) needs before her own...being a good mother; and keeping the family together." (Perilla 123) The idea of self-sacrifice may be noble, but the painful reality is the imprisoning impact of such a mindset within an abusive relationship. If a woman is convinced that her sacrifice for the welfare of her family properly includes silently suffering while putting up with abuse, there is little recourse or hope for deliverance. A second contributing factor to an abused woman's choice to stay in the relationship is the wide network of extended-family support. Studies show that many "Hispanic women solicit support from members of the abuser's family," with a majority reporting that "a member of the abuser's family was their most critical source of instrumental support." (Yoshioka 177-178) While it may appear to be nonsensical to the outside observer, the fact that these battered women are talking to their husband's mothers and sisters reinforces the idea of staying within the family. All of the cultural, traditional, and emotional motivators can be used in that instance to gloss over the problem, rather than solve it. Finally, many of these victims are simply unaware of the remedies available to them. Powell states that "[d]espite the new provisions available to assist immigrant victims of domestic violence...many eligible women fail to take advantage of these policies." (1) If the victims do not know about the resources available to them, they will isolate themselves further and find no way to escape the situation while preserving their family. Beyond the macro social issues and specific personal motives that prevent Hispanic women from breaking the domestic violence cycle, there are cultural values in play that buttress the barrier to freedom. Given the Latin social composition of patriarchal family structure, gender roles, and religious views, many women find themselves at odds with their own value system when faced with escaping a violent relationship. In Latin tradition, the man is the head of the house; he is to be followed. From the "man's perspective, the use of violence is simply a means to ensure that the woman will comply with his demands. These well-developed ideas of power based on gender, control and hierarchy are often echoed by members of a group..." (Perilla 111-112) When these gender-defined roles are accepted by a domestic abuse victim, replete with the penalty exacted for violating the expectations, the cycle of violence remains unbroken. Within the Hispanic community, there are "gendered role expectations. Violations of these expectations...in situations [where] social standing and income are low, might threaten (a man's] identity and lead him to violence." (Frias 555) Men are generally viewed as the provider, while women are seen as the keepers of the home. If a woman finds herself outside of the traditional role, she is at risk for abuse. Religious beliefs also contribute to the sustained abuse of Hispanic women. Divorce is usually not an option and the strong bias against it can deprive the woman of her key support system. In the tradition of emulating the Virgin Mary, many Latin women seek to exhibit the attributes of "self-sacrifice, abnegation, passivity, and sexual purity...[and] expressing dissatisfaction with her husband/marriage could cast a negative light on her family." (Perilla 123) An escape from abuse by violating these core religious values would be anathema to many Hispanic women. Thus, the only answer is to live with the situation, hoping and praying that the violent behavior will stop. Clearly, this is no solution to a clear pattern of domestic abuse. The culturological assessment of domestic violence against Hispanic women is a study of the essential concerns of humanity. From the perspective of broad social issues, to the specific motivations of individuals caught in the cycle of domestic violence, to the cultural traditions passed down through generations, this subject is as nuanced as it is fundamental. Social scientists understand domestic violence as a pervasive evil, yet the inherent cultural and psychological drives of an individual can negate all logic. References Caetano, R. and Cunradi, C. (2003). Intimate Partner Violence and Depression among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. Association of Emergency Physicians, Vol. 13, No. 10, 661-665. Community Partnership: Globalization and the Role of Service Providers to Immigrant Battered Women (1999). Retrieved February 20, 2006 from The University of Tennessee, The Face of Immigration in Tennessee: http://web.ut.edu/ tnlatina/ domesticarticle.html Frias, S. M. and Angel, R. J. (2005). The Risk of Partner Violence Among Low-Income Hispanic Subgroups. Journal of Marriage and Family , 67, 552-564. Perilla, J.L. (1999). Domestic Violence as a Human Rights Issue: The Case of Immigrant Latinos. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 31, No. 3, 107-133. Powell, J. (DATE). Title of the article. Title of the Source, Volume, No., Pages. Yoshioka, M.R., Gilbert, L., El-Basset, N., and Baig-Ain, M. (2003). Social Support and Disclosure of Abuse: Comparing South Asian, African American, and Hispanic Battered Women. Journal of Family Violence, Vol. 18, No. 3, 171-180. Read More