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Cultural Perspective: Women of Mexican Origin Living with Abuse

Wednesday, 24 July 2013: 8:50 AM

Nora Montalvo Liendo, PhD, RN
College of Nursing, University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, TX
Joan Engebretson, DrPH, AHN-BC, RN
School of Nursing, UTHSC-Houston, Houston, TX
Belinda Reinigner, DrPH
School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center Public Health Regional Campus Brownsville, Brownsville, TX
Diane Wardell, PhD, RNC
School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to discuss the cultural context of women of Mexican origin living with violence.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to describe the complexity of disclosure in women of Mexican origin living with violence.

Purpose: A cultural perspective is necessary to understand the experiences of women of Mexican origin who live with abuse.  Little is known about women of Mexican descent (e.g. Mexican-American or Mexican immigrant women) who live with abuse from a cultural perspective.

Methods: In this qualitative study, data collection included conducting extensive interviews in order to explore the experiences and cultural context of women of Mexican origin. The study included fieldwork at two sites (a shelter and outreach community agency) that provided services to women who were battered and/or sexually assaulted.  Twenty-six women were interviewed.

Results: Themes relevant to gendered roles and traditional female social roles emerged.

Conclusion: Women do not idly accept the violence perpetrated against them, rather, the severe consequences of not accepting the abuse force them to retreat to other coping mechanisms to protect their children and themselves.

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