SOCIOLOGY

Domestic Violence on Hispanic Women



[Name of the Institute]

Domestic Violence on Hispanic Women

Introduction

Domestic violence is a growing social problem which affects women throughout the United States regardless of age, social status, race or religion. Each year an estimate of 6 million women is victims of domestic violence in the United States (Rennison, 2003) and one in four women are threatened with physical abuse during their lifetime (Aminah & Radecki, 2011).

In the majority of domestic violence cases, the victim is a spouse or partner. Despite domestic violence being an issue of a significant proportion, it remains unstated by health care workers who lack adequate training to treat victims or feel uncomfortable addressing domestic violence issues.

Domestic violence on Hispanic women

For this review, six domestic violence related studies on Hispanic women were selected. The Hispanic population is the largest minority group in the United States (Walter, 2006). Hispanic women are vulnerable to domestic violence due to the lack of available economic and social resources. This review found several common factors that predisposed the victims to domestic violence.

First, women with less than a high school education were at higher risk than those women who had completed college (Demetrious, et al, 1999).

Second, consumption of alcohol or drugs from the abuser. Alcohol abuse among the partners of domestic violence victims was confirmed to be relevant to the increment in episodes of domestic abuse during and after consumption.

Third, cultural beliefs; Machismo which portrays males as superior to their female counterparts, and the justification of wife beatings as a punishment.

Some women in the studies shared the common belief that family upbringings, where boys are taught not to show motions and girls are given more responsibilities may be influential to create future generations of “machos” whom in turn may become perpetrators. The unwillingness from women to denounce domestic violence episodes ...