A strong sense of culture keep Latinas from “betraying” long-standing values. Those who step outside of these norms, shame not only themselves but also their parents, grandparents, etc. Latino family obligations always come first no matter what personal animosities may exist.
	A Latina who can’t keep her family together is considered a failure. She may stay with an abusive husband or not disclose her situation to relatives in order to keep up appearances.
	Women who are deeply religious may believe a violent spouse is their “cross to bear.” Additional pressure to stay derives from the Catholic Church’s ban on divorce. Family members may be particularly unsympathetic when a Latina tries to leave her abusive marriage.
	Latinas without economic resources must often rely on public service providers. Yet police and others who attend them seldom offer culturally sensitive response or Spanish language assistant.
	Community outreach in Spanish around domestic violence issues is almost non-existent. Few materials are created specifically for Latinas or even translated into Spanish.
	A batterer who is a U.S citizen may manipulate and control his immigrant wife by threatening to have her deported if she complains about his violence. He may coerce her to stay with the empty promise of filing her residency papers.
	In Mexico a law called “abandono de hogar” punishes women who leave their homes, even to flea violence. Women convicted of “abandoning the home” often lost custody of their children. Some Mexican women who immigrate to the U.S. erroneously believe that this law applies here.
	Because of these factors- the language barrier, the lack of resources, the threat of deportation for some and misinformation about legal rights –Latinas often become isolated. These women fear being hurt by the very authorities charged with protecting their well being. Communities must develop culturally sensitive solutions to violence in Latino families and find effective ways to reach this growing segment of the population.

Though abuse exists in all kinds of families, Latinas who face violence at home have particular needs. To better address these issues, the Latinas task Force of the Texas Council on Family Violence was created four years ago.

Latinos are a diverse group, encompassing those born in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as their U.S. born descendants. The following are some specific concerns of Latinas who experience domestic Violence.