Ethics and Cultural Competence in Research with Battered Immigrant Latina Women

Abstract

This article addresses key issues in ethical andculturally competent research with battered immigrant Latinas. The discussion centers on the importance of having an understanding of the realities of the population studied in a research project as well as a commitment to engage in partnership and collaboration with the communities the participants represent. The objective of this article is to conceptualize how domestic violence should be assessed with underserved populations such as battered immigrant women. We illustrate this approach with examples from ethnographic research on immigrant Latina women experiencing domestic violence in the United States and from oral history research conducted in Mexico.

Out of the shadows: Shedding light on intimate partner homicide amongLatinawomen

“…Latina IPH victims were significantly more likely to have restraining orders when compared to IPH victims of other races/ethnicities (Vittes & Sorenson, ), which conflicts with previous research indicating that Latinas are less likely than other races/ethnicities are to rely on the criminal justice system for domestic violence assistance (Correia, ; Fawcett et al, ; McFarlane et al, ; Menjivar & Bejarano, ; Silva‐Martinez & Murty, ). However, considering that Latinas typically utilize informal sources of domestic violence support (Fawcett et al, ; Silva‐Martinez & Murty, ; Vidales, ) before reaching out to formal sources (because those sources are often unhelpful and discriminatory [Correia, ; Fawcett et al, ; Menjivar & Bejarano, ; Silva‐Martinez & Murty, ]), perhaps these findings suggest that Latinas reach out to the criminal justice system when all other resources have failed, indicating a greater severity of violence and necessity for assistance. On the other hand, women are also at an increased risk of lethal violence after leaving or attempting to leave a violent relationship (Campbell, Webster, Koziol‐McLain, Block, Campbell, Curry, Gary, Glass, et al, ; Dawson & Gartner, ; Websdale, ; Wilson & Daly, ; Wilson et al, ).…”

“…The gap between these two bodies of analysis defines future directions for research. Specifically, we know that cultural forces such as Marianismo , familismo , and simpatía may shape Latinas' experiences of domestic violence (Marrs Fuchsel, ; Silva‐Martinez & Murty, ; Triandis et al, ; Vidales, ); however, we do not know how these cultural forces contribute to Latinas' experiences of IPH offending and victimization. Employing a methodology similar to McFarlane et al's (), mixed‐methods studies could utilize the Danger Assessment Survey to examine abused Latinas' and Latina IPH victims' (utilizing proxies) IPH risk and interviews with these Latinas (or proxies) to flesh out how that risk is shaped by cultural forces.…”

“…This cultural value is similar to socialized gender expectations for female submissiveness within the dominant White culture (Messerschmidt, ). And finally, the familismo cultural value emphasizes Latina attachment to and identification with family, as well as a responsibility for addressing the needs of family before self (Marrs Fuchsel, ; Silva‐Martinez & Murty, ; Vidales, ). Latinas who value familismo may refuse to leave their husbands to ensure the family remains intact or to disclose domestic violence to family because they do not want to be perceived as disloyal wives.…”

“…However, this research fails to account for the active strategies that Latinas (and White women) employ to protect themselves from male violence, such as reaching out to family for assistance (Flicker et al, ; Ingram, ). Latinas are more likely to rely on family to cope with abuse than on formal support sources (Fawcett et al, ; Silva‐Martinez & Murty, ). When compared to U.S.‐born Latinas, however, immigrant Latinas' families may be thousands of miles away and thus inaccessible to abused Latina immigrants when they need help (Erez, ; Erez & Harper, in press; Flicker et al, ; Vidales, ).…”

“…The researchers found that in both the control and experimental groups, Latinas were less likely than African‐American and White women were to have a restraining order, reported stalking to the police, or facilitated the arrest of their abusers. Latinas may be less likely than other racial/ethnic groups to reach out to police for domestic violence assistance because, for instance, the police may respond inappropriately and use children or perpetrators to translate (Erez & Hartley, ; Messing, Becerra, Ward‐Lasher, & Androff, ; Silva‐Martinez & Murty, ), which may increase the risk of retaliatory and potentially lethal male violence, and are less likely than other racial/ethnic groups to seek out restraining orders because, for instance, they may not know they are available (Messing, Vega, & Durfee, ; Reina et al, ) or rely on their abusers' income for survival (Reina & Lohman, ). However, Vittes and Sorenson's () study summarized below challenges these contentions.…”