Intergenerational Transmission of Violence in Latino Families – The Role of Mothers

• Zarah Zurita, Sociology, University of Delaware

• Angela Hattery, Women and Gender Studies, University of Delaware

This paper explores the roles of mothers in the transmission of intergenerational violence among Latino families in the United States. Latino children and youth are the fastest-growing ethnic minority in the United States. They also are unique in the sense that they experience mixed-status families in which one, or more, of their family members lack the proper authorization to live and work in the United States. Due to this, they face a distinctive form of family violence in which fear of deportation silences victims. Based on interviews with 11 Latina women, I find evidence of cases in which the roles of mothers either interrupt or contribute to the continuation of the intergenerational transmission of the violence cycle. This paper explores the tensions between personal experiences with witnessing violence and the actions Latina mothers took in order to stop cycles of abuse and their outcomes for their own children. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research that centers on the experiences of Latino communities in order to reduce intergenerational trauma and transmission of violence in Latino communities.