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Domestic Violence an Ongoing Problem in Tulsa Latino Communities

Concha García Hernández
/
Wikipedia

Advocates are trying to raise awareness of domestic violence in Tulsa’s Latino communities.

One in three Latinas experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. Some, however, may not be aware of it when it happens. Domestic Violence Intervention Services counselor Amparo Maez-Jara said many Latinas think they’re being abused only if they have a physical injury.

"Yelling and screaming, sex, physical, mental, emotional — all that is domestic violence, and they don't know that," Maez-Jara said.

"A lot of people don't come to us and complain because they don't have a purple eye. They don't have a broken nose. But, they're controlled," Maez-Jara said. "You go to the store. 'OK, five minutes. Where are you? Where'd you go?' you know, and they come home and the guy just takes over and beats them because they took five more minutes."

Maez-Jara said men are being abused, too.

"One of four men have experienced physical and sexual abuse. Men don't report that," Maez-Jara said. "Men are the macho nachos. ... Nobody believes them. Policemen don't believe them."

According to national statistics, another problem is one in three shelters don’t have Spanish-speaking staff. DVIS does offer help in English and Spanish to women and men who are victims of domestic violence.

DVIS also offers child-related services at its shelter. A lack of those services can also be a barrier to Latina and Latino victims in need of help.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.