Research #13

Latina SUrvivors.

Latina includes many different cultures like Mexico, central America and South AMerica. They have many differences, but they share some similarities as well. It is important to understand their background and being able to respect it.

Cultural context for Latino SUrvivors

Latino survivors face many different difficulties when living in a different country. They tend to keep their culture art the same time as they try to fit in a new one.

Their culture is, first and foremost, traditionally patriarchal. It is often believed that men have more rights than women do.

Machismo is a way that man can show their power, strength, and position. In America heritage dictionary it is exaggerated sense of masculinity, domination of women, and aggressiveness.

Latina survivors tend to manifest unwillingness to challenge any male of their family. If the offender was a relative or someone that they know, sometimes they believe that it is okay to happen because they are more powerfully than women.

For Latino culture, virginity is one of the most valuable attribute of a woman. Therefore, they tend to feel guilty and confused.

Considerate on for Counselors

Parents often ask if their daughter is still a virging, and it is important to let them understand that it doesn't matter her physical condition because her psychological and spiritual condition is still a virgin.

In this culture women are often look as weaker than men, and they always need to be protected by a male.

It is important to make the family comfortable in order to make the healing process easier.

They are usually Catholics or religious in certain ways, therefore is it is important to let them know that the church doesn't support violence against anyone.

Disclosure is very important for the recovery process, and these survivors might feel like it is not okay to talk about personal things outside the family environment. Educating them would be really helpful.

Sometimes disclosure of any type of abuse could be looked upon as betrayal and disloyalty. Therefore, the survivor might experience guilt, and fear.