The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Rosa-María Cervantes, a counselor for battered wives in Corpus Christi, discusses the problem of domestic violence within Chicano families as well as the resources available to support its 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: Alcoholism, Battered 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. Broadcast date: 1980-03-27.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), and Cervantes, Rosa-María (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
3/1/1980
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin
sound recordings, grabaciones sonoras, radio programs, programas de radio, and Audio
Extent:
25 minutes, 20 seconds
Rights - Use and Reproduction:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language:
English
Place of Publication:
Austin (Tex.)
Topic:
Family violence, Mexican American women--Abuse of, Marital violence, Family violence--Religious aspects--Catholic Church, Sex role--Religious aspects--Catholic Church., and Violencia familiar--Aspectos religiosos--Iglesia Católica