EFFECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON THE IMMIGRANT HISPANIC WOMEN
LIVING IN THE UNITED NATIONS
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A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF
……………………………….IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF ………………………………….. STUDIES,
……………..UNIVERSITY.
EFFECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON WOMEN 2
Domestic Violence in the Immigrant Hispanic Women
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
According to Ohio Domestic Violence Network (2014), domestic violence that is
sometimes referred to as battering, family violence, or at other times intimate partner violence,
refers to a pattern of behavior used in the establishment of power and control over a person one
is in relationship with/ spouse through fear and intimidation. Most often, the threat or use of
violence affects the development of the victim socially, psychologically, emotionally and health
wise[ CITATION Lyn14 \l 1033 ]. Abusers use threats, intimidation, isolation, and other forms of
abuse to gain power over these victims (Lynn, 2014). It is noted that men, who when in
childhood witnessed battering in their parents’ marriage, were twice as likely to abuse their own
wives as sons of nonviolent parents[ CITATION Dom14 \l 1033 ].
According to Lynn (2014), domestic violence is a problem that is affecting women
psychologically, physically and mentally. Domestic violence is recognized as one of the leading
problems that many women experience in the United States (Domestic Violence, 2009). Lynn
reported that nearly one in five teenage women who are in a relationship in their life said that a
spouse or boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm in any case they presented them with a
breakup. Solutions have been proposed concerning this problem, such as treatments for those
those cause the abuse as proposed by (U.S. Department of Justice, 2006). Campbell et al (2003)
argue that there are programs like batterer’s interventions that are set up to give help for those
committing domestic violence to help improve the safety these women. Campbell et al (2003)
stated that even though there is substantial evidence of this research in the published scholarly
materials concerning domestic violence in the Hispanic immigrant women, the research has
mainly focused on the negative psychological effects on the women[ CITATION Cam03 \l
EFFECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON WOMEN 3
1033 ]. The aim of this paper is to present the risks associated with domestic violence among the
immigrant women of Hispanic origin in the American society and how it affects them
emotionally and psychologically.
The main aim of the paper is to address the effects of domestic violence specifically on
Hispanic women viewing reasons why so many women are affected by domestic violence,
especially the immigrant women of Hispanic origin. It will address the target audience who are
mainly affected and what effects they suffer from that can be used in ending this menace
problem. The study area of this paper is exploring the psychological effects of domestic violence
on the Hispanic women living in the U.S.
Background to the Study
Domestic violence (DV) perpetrated against immigrant women is a global problem that is
without cultural, geographic, religious, social, economic, or even national boundaries (Murray,
2008). The effects of this form of physical and emotional abuse influence the entire society on
the value and role of women (Adelman & Gregory, 2009). Domestic violence is irrespective of
the social status because it is evident to the rich and the poor in the society (Lacey & Saunders,
2011).
In the 19th century, domestic violence was studied by the researchers drawn from and/or
associated with different professions (Adelman & Gregory, 2009). These professionals were able
to identify the various impacts that the vice has on the society as a whole. Studies indicates that
domestic violence is a major stressor for the immigrant women of Hispanic origin[ CITATION
Jud09 \l 1033 ]. The nature of abuse they go through and their nationality status predisposes
them to more violation of their rights (Koss, White, & Kazdin, 2011). The common
consequences of domestic violence is that domestic violence makes women and girls feel unsafe
EFFECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON WOMEN 4
in places where and in times when they should be feeling safest (Durfee, 2011). Durfee (2010)
continues to note that they are in their home and together with their beloved family members
during much of the abuse. Domestic violence does not only affect the female victims physically,
but the greatest harm is on their emotional and psychological wellbeing (Lacey & Saunders,
2011).
According to Durfee (2011), this feeling of insecurity is attributed to the fact that the
victims of the domestic violence often get disturbed psychologically as they develop a negative
perception about the men after being abused by the men through beating and intimidation. For
Durfee, the moment one’s emotional state is disturbed due to the impacts of domestic violence, it
cannot be regained. As such, such people tend to lose their self-respect and self-esteem (Durfee,
2011).
Domestic violence is a major challenge that affect affects not only the perpetrators, but
also the victims severely together with their families in the American society (Durfee, 2011).
Domestic violence affect grammar error here people of all ages, gender the first time you
mention that men are abused – good this needs to be included in your study even if not the
central theme . More often than not, most victims of domestic violence choose to keep quiet and
suffer silently and secretly (Stein, 2011). The cause of this silence varies from place to place and
society to society. For example, the nature of their legality in the US; immigrant women of
Hispanic origin may feel forced to remain silent as their citizenship is questionable (Durfee,
2011). However, the general notion is that many victims of domestic violence are usually so
scared by the ordeal they go through to the extent that they falsely believe reporting or leaving
their homes might result in more danger to their lives with fear of deportation or their children
being taken away from them since they got into U.S. illegally and are undocumented. (Stein,
EFFECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON WOMEN 5
2011). Other reasons for silence and secrecy include the need to protect reputations of the family
and all affected, threats from the perpetrator, and lack of awareness that such vices constitute
criminal offenses (Adelman & Gregory, 2009).
Throughout the world, old women and their children are commonly affected by domestic
violence (Durfee, 2011). More often than not, these women and their children are the victims of
domestic violence as opposed to the men who are the perpetrators of these violence (Koss, White
& Kazdin, 2011). Psychological abuse as a result of women battering in domestic violence drains
the confidence of the affected women. This may results in inability of the victims to fully
participate in normal social activities (Koss, White & Kazdin, 2011).
Koss, White &Kazdin (2011) states that the problem is made worse in the case of
immigrant women. This is because unlike other women who have the benefit of family support,
immigrant women are often excluded from their communities and even family and as such are
more exposed to humiliation and abuse in their marriages (Koss, White & Kazdin, 2011).
Immigrant women are also likely to be more affected by domestic violence because apart from
the psychological suffering they have to undergo as a result of the violence. Other stressors,
jointly classified as acculturation stress, include dealing with new people under a new
environment, learning a new language, and coping with virtually everything that is new and/or
strange they make them ineffective in their family’s spouses that make these men abuse them on
the grounds that they are not performing as expected. In the new country where these women
have migrated to, the entire system – from culture to government – is very different from the one
to which that the woman is used (Koss, White & Kazdin, 2011).
Under such circumstances, it becomes even harder for the woman – when she is the
victim of domestic violence – to report to the relevant authorizes the suffering she is undergoing
EFFECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON WOMEN 6
(Poutiainen & Holma, 2013). In fact it is within the context of immigration that the most
unreported /cases of domestic violence have been recorded (Poutiainen & Holma, 2013).
According to Poutiainen and Holma (2013), the need to avoid being deported is the main reason
why immigrant women actually go to great lengths to tolerate domestic violence in their local
setting. This is very common among Hispanic immigrants whom are known to have come to the
US in an illegal manner. Therefore, any action taken with a view to finding justice against
domestic violence is often likely to result in their being found out by the authorities (Poutiainen
& Holma, 2013).
For such women, therefore, it is much better for their safety and that of their families to
remain silent and secretly as they painfully bear the burden and pain of domestic violence meted
out on them (Lacey & Saunders, 2011). It is therefore not surprising that domestic violence has
increased significantly among Hispanic immigrants in the US. The increase is in connection with
the fact that the perpetrators are fully aware that their wrong actions are not going to be reported
whatsoever (Poutiainen & Holma, 2013).
Furthermore, domestic violence has reportedly increased in areas of the US where there
exist a large number of immigrant Hispanics (Koss, White & Kazdin, 2011). This increase has
taken place across a period of about two decades (Poutiainen & Holma, 2013). The fact that
Hispanic women are categorized as the largest minority group in the US also adds to the high
likelihood that one of them would be a victim of the domestic violence (Poutiainen & Holma,
2013).
The National Observatory against domestic and gender violence revealed, in 2011, that
among immigrant women, there existed an increase in the number of those who did not report
cases of domestic violence committed against (Poutiainen & Holma, 2013). In 2005, this number [Show Less]