Latina women in the United States confront a confluence of structural inequities—racialized immigration status, gendered expectations, and socioeconomic marginalization—that shape distinct patterns of interpersonal and institutional abuse. This paper foregrounds the lived experience of , a second‑generation Mexican‑American survivor whose narrative illuminates how cultural scripts, family dynamics, and systemic power structures intersect to produce and perpetuate abuse. By triangulating qualitative interview data, community‑based participatory research (CBPR) findings, and a critical review of scholarship on gender‑based violence (GBV) within Latina/o communities, the study identifies three central mechanisms: (1) Familial Patriarchal Enforcement , (2) Legal‑Immigration Weaponization , and (3) Silencing through Cultural Stigma . The analysis further explores emergent forms of resilience— cultural brokerage, collective survivorship, and transnational advocacy —that challenge dominant victim‑victimizer binaries. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at culturally responsive service provision, trauma‑informed legal reforms, and community‑driven prevention strategies.
Kendra's story is a testament to the strength and resilience of Latinas everywhere. Despite facing incredible challenges, she found the courage to seek help and eventually became a vocal advocate for Latina empowerment. Latina Abuse - Kendra Star
| Recommendation | Target Actor | Rationale | |----------------|--------------|-----------| | for all staff at domestic‑violence shelters serving Latina populations. | State licensing boards & NGOs | Reduces misinterpretation of cultural practices as “compliance” with abuse. | | Expansion of U‑Visa and VAWA Protections to include relatives of undocumented victims who are coerced by abusers. | Federal Congress & USCIS | Counteracts legal terror by providing safe‑lawful status pathways. | | Funding for Survivor‑Led Collectives (e.g., a $2 M federal grant program). | Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) | Empowers community ownership of prevention and healing initiatives. | | Integrated Legal‑Health Navigation Hubs co‑located with community health centers in high‑Latina neighborhoods. | County health departments | Facilitates seamless access to protective orders, immigration relief, and mental‑health services. | | Data Collection Mandate requiring shelters to disaggregate abuse statistics by language, immigration status, and ethnicity. | Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) | Enables evidence‑based policy making and resource allocation. | Latina women in the United States confront a
Kendra's experiences with abuse began when she was in a relationship with someone who was emotionally and physically abusive. Despite her efforts to hide the abuse from her family and friends, Kendra's abuser became increasingly controlling and manipulative. Despite facing incredible challenges, she found the courage
On November 17, 2011, Kendra Star, a vibrant and young Latina woman, was found dead in her apartment in Los Angeles, California. Her boyfriend, 28-year-old Justin Martinez, had brutally stabbed her multiple times and left her body for dead. Martinez had a history of violence and had previously been arrested for assaulting Star. Despite this, he was released from jail just days before killing Star.