On average, 24 people per minute are victims of violence at the hands of their intimate partner in the United States.
And according to the National Institutes of Health, domestic violence is more likely to occur in Latine relationships — 14% of Latine couples report domestic violence compared to the 6% of reports made by their white counterparts.
Philadelphia faces many challenges with domestic abuse — many local organizations that specialize in domestic violence depend on limited government funding — generating a gap in information available to Latine women.
Limited resources
Domestic violence is complex, and elements such as race and ethnicity can make an already difficult situation even more complicated. According to the National Institute of Health, factors like cultural stereotypes and gender norms, in addition to isolation from their country of origin and their families, make Latine women more vulnerable to domestic violence.
“Culture has a lot to do with it. American culture is more open while Latin culture is very sexist, so when it comes to reporting, Latin women struggle with cultural taboos and misconceptions about domestic violence,” says Tannia Solis, member of VozColectiva, a newsroom focused on producing and distributing information in Spanish about domestic abuse.
In a city that has experienced a 27% increase in the Latino community since 2000, access to information in Spanish is pivotal in Philadelphia.
Nonprofits like Love Shouldn’t Hurt (LSH), Women Against Abuse (WAA), Congreso de Latinos Unidos and Madre Tierra are pivotal when it comes to offering resources about domestic abuse.
“We receive Latina women and other victims who do not have papers because we don’t rely on state funding, which typically requires victims to have documentation like social security numbers,” says Christina Vega, Director of Love Shouldn’t Hurt, adding that the organization’s financial support comes from fundraising events throughout the year. “Seventy percent of the women we help in Philadelphia are Latina.”
Mercy Mosquera, member of VozColectiva, considers it essential that immigrant women access resources regardless of immigration status.
“There are several reasons why immigrant women do not report domestic abuse. The first is the fear generated by knowing they have no legal protection in this country, and the second is the threats they receive,” says Mosquera.
Congreso de Latinos Unidos offer counciling services for people who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic abuse. Their free services expand to Latine women regardless of their migratory status.
“The counselors help survivors navigate different resources, but also process and recognize red flags in a relationship,” says Kira Bellolio, Program Director, Family Wellness Department at Congreso de Latinos Unidos.
Madre Tierra is another organization that has advocated against domestic violence for the last five years. The executive director, Arianne Brancho says she “has seen a positive impact on the community through its programs and campaigns.”
Latina women face particular challenges when it comes to coping with domestic violence due to generational gender roles like machismo. “Barriers around language access and a lack of Spanish resources and interventions can make it difficult,” states WAA Executive Director and President, Joanna Otero-Cruz.
Language barriers
Generally speaking, Latine women do not communicate in the same way American women do — they use a different language and methods to obtain information. Advocates stress that in order to address an issue like domestic violence, it is necessary to make sure all demographics in the city have access to basic information and resources they need to stay safe.
Mosquera emphasizes on the importance of having clear targets when it comes to useful resources to spread information about domestic abuse to Hispanic communities.
Both LSH and WAA understand that “every victim’s situation is different,” Vega states, emphasizing the tailored approach needed in support services. LSH employs a licensed therapist to triage and review intake questionnaires, ensuring that their programs continually adapt to meet the needs of survivors.
“Studies show that Latina survivors prefer to tell family members, female friends, or even neighbors about the abuse, so that is why it is so important to really educate the community to be advocates within their circles of influence to make sure they understand the warning signs,” says WAA Director of Communications Katie Wildes-Young.
WAA provides a Spanish version of their website in addition to a 24/7 Spanish hotline. Wildes-Young describes how the nonprofit took the initiative to translate the Pennsylvania State training program that did not exist into Spanish, so that they could certify their Spanish speaking counselors.
Additionally, it’s important to acknowledge that African American women also experience domestic violence at disproportionately higher rates compared to White women. While this article focuses on Latina victims, the broader context of domestic violence in Philadelphia must consider the experiences of all affected communities.
Local advocates are calling on lawmakers to do more so organizations that focus on domestic violence can obtain funding and resources to help women, regardless of their migratory status.
“There are organizations that do offer services,” Mosquera says, “but they are not enough to address the rates of domestic violence.”
Metro Philadelphia is one of more than 25 news organizations powering the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative. We do solutions reporting on things that affect daily life in our city where the problem and symptoms are obvious, but what’s driving them isn’t. Follow us at @PHLJournoCollab