“Allow Me to Speak”

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is experienced by millions of women. The experience becomes complex when confronted in a different country, especially for Spanish-speaking Latina immigrants, representing a challenge in their path to survival. This ethnographic study was based in Chicana feminism and Mujerismo epistemology. From the Mujerista framework arises the concept of permítanme hablar and la lucha, which emphasizes the importance of the women’s narratives from their own contexts. Consequently, the need of reclaiming from their stories alternative forms of intervention by service providers and those who develop programs as well as social policies in favor of their communities.

Intimate Partner Violence Prevention and Intervention Group-Format Programs for Immigrant Latinas: a Systematic Review

“…IL experiencing IPV report deterrents from seeking support from such formal systems as law enforcement, social service agencies, shelters, and legal resources (Reina and Lohman 2015;Silva-Martínez 2017;Zadnik et al 2016). Immigration status is a primary barrier to help-seeking, as its widespread impact includes cultural barriers such as lack of language proficiency and different values, structural barriers such as low income and education, and institutional barriers such as legal systems and law enforcement structures that are difficult to navigate (Reina and Lohman 2015;Silva-Martínez 2017). Underneath these issues, IL report fear, unfamiliarity, and a lack of trust and knowledge regarding utilizing formal systems (Zadnik et al 2016).…”

Stories of Hope and Health: Wisdom From Older Mexican–American Women Who Broke Free From the Entangled Web of Love and Violence

“…Furthermore, Denzin explains that it is challenging to apply one specific theory to critical qualitative research, given the complexity and uniqueness of each human situation. Researchers have suggested that in interpretive qualitative research, theory be used creatively to frame research questions and in data analysis and interpretation (Wu & Volker, 2009). Interpretive interactionism, the conceptual and methodological orientation for this study, connects individual epiphanies of private hidden problems such as IPV with larger social and public issues, addressing interrelationships with and public responses to those problems.…”

“…Some move beyond IPV but experience the aftermath, manifested in multiple health problems or negative coping (Lazenbatt & Devaney, 2014). Other women, however, not only survive IPV, but leave the violence behind and discover ways to even thrive (Silva-Martínez, 2017).…”