Rivera- Domestic Violence against Latinas

The article by Rivera examines Domestic violence focused primarily in latino communities. Various factors affect the status of latino women in U.S. society. Politics, society, and economic status play a large factor in status in latino communities. Women face the threat of multiple discrimination and are often stuck in abusive relationships due to language barriers, low mobility because of family size, religion, and financial restraints.

Structural functionalism examines the relationship between social institutions Numerous institutions affect latino women's ability to avoid domestic abuse. One particular institution the author addressed, Religion, was intriguing to me since i woul cacaration d often consider that a place for women to turn to in situations of abuse. Many religious Latina women feel the need to keep a family together and will therefore accept abuse. Religion is not the only institution that affects Latinas. Because of a strained relationship with law enforcement many women fear calling the police in situations of violence. Often arrests result in "dual arrests" where both the man and women are arrested not benefiting the woman at all. This is a good explanation for a high percentage of Latino's in jail. Different social institutions have direct affects on one another. Latino women face barriers due to race, gender, and origin and often face discrimination in multiple forms.