PROGRAM INFO
- Title:
- The Battered Wife
- Program #
- 1980-16
- Themes:
- Identity, Society
- Series:
- Social Issues
- Host:
- Linda Fregoso
- Guest:
- Rosa-María Cervantes
- Date:
- Mar 1, 1980
The Battered Wife
Rosa-Maria Cervantes discusses the problem of domestic violence within Chicano families and the resources available for victims. Cervantes suggests that Chicanas may face slightly higher levels of abuse than other women and are more hesitant to leave because of religious mandates against divorce and the cultural emphasis on the extended family. Further, the idea that women are not equal to their husbands is reinforced in all areas of society from the workplace to the legal system and even in the movies. Cervantes also summarizes the findings of scholars who have argued that men turn to violence because they are frustrated in their jobs and in society.
Cervantes explains that women who experienced domestic violence in their childhood have a harder time leaving abusive husbands than women who did not. Cervantes then describes the resources available to support victims of abuse, and she explains some of the cultural barriers that make it difficult for Mexican-Americans to seek counseling. She also discusses the danger of children repeating the violence they have witnessed.
She finds that almost 60% of the women in her shelter return to their husbands and she explains that those who confront their husbands about violence tend to see changes. Cervantes says that while husbands can also be victims of abuse, few seek help, and she urges them and all victims to stand and be counted so that we can begin to end domestic violence.
KEYWORDS
AlcoholismBattered Husbands
Battered Women
Catholicism
Chicano Family Size
Child Support
Childhood violence
Children
Corpus Christi, Texas
Counseling
Crime
Cultural Stereotypes
Cycle of Domestic Violence
Discrimination
Domestic Violence
Education
Emotional Abuse
Extended Family
Family
Family Violence
Feminism
Gender Discrimination
Gender Equality
Intimacy
Machismo
Masculinity
Medicaid
Mental Health
Murray A. Straus
Parenting
Patriarchy
Physical Abuse
Richard Gelles
Rosa-Maria Cervantes
Sexism
Shelters
Social services
Susan Steinmetz
Welfare
Wife Abuse