A resilient woman stands strong, supported by a community network, overcoming the challenges of IPV.

Finding Strength Within: How Mexican American Women Overcome Intimate Partner Violence

Jordan Keane in Culture & Society June 2025 • 3 min read.

"Explore the resilience and social support networks that empower survivors of IPV to rebuild their lives."

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) leaves deep scars, but the human spirit's capacity for resilience shines even in the darkest times. For Mexican American women facing IPV, the path to healing often intertwines with their cultural background, social connections, and inner strength. Understanding these dynamics is crucial to providing effective support and fostering lasting recovery.

For over three decades, the concept of resilience has reshaped how professionals approach individuals, families and communities experiencing adversity. This shift moves away from focusing on deficits and pathologies to embracing strengths and potential for growth. Social support networks play a crucial role, forming the foundation for interpersonal interactions and resilience-building.

This article explores the theme of resiliency within the context of the social networks of IPV survivors in a specific ethnic group. It explores the questions such as, What parts of the IPV survivors' social networks are most supportive? Also to understand the context of these questions, this article provides a background of IPV, information on Mexican American survivors of IPV, a discussion of cultural competence as it relates to IPV, and the theoretical basis for the research.

The Resilience Factor: Bouncing Back from IPV

A resilient woman stands strong, supported by a community network, overcoming the challenges of IPV.

Resilience isn't about ignoring the challenges of IPV. It's about developing the inner resources and coping mechanisms to navigate those challenges and emerge stronger. This shift in perspective gained momentum in the 1980s, as the focus moved from portraying those experiencing IPV as helpless victims to recognizing them as survivors with agency and inner strength.

A key turning point was reframing the concept of "learned helplessness." Early theories suggested that repeated exposure to abuse led to passivity and resignation. However, research revealed that many women actively sought help and developed strategies for survival. This recognition of help-seeking behavior highlighted the resilience inherent in these actions.

Factors influencing a woman's decision to seek help:

Severity of the violence
Access to sensitive services
Cultural factors
Potential immigration status affects

Recognizing resilience helps reframe the narrative. Instead of asking, "Why does she stay?" we can ask, "How did she survive?" This shift places the focus on the perpetrator's actions and empowers the survivor's journey. It acknowledges the strength and resourcefulness required to navigate incredibly difficult circumstances. The concept of resilience is a beacon of hope, offering a path toward healing and empowerment.

Empowering the Journey

Supporting Mexican American women in overcoming IPV requires recognizing their cultural context, strengths, and social networks. By fostering resilience and providing access to culturally sensitive resources, we can empower them to rebuild their lives and create a future free from violence. This study highlights the important role of friends, neighbors, and formal services as sources of support, and encourages further exploration into the impact of cultural beliefs and family dynamics on the recovery process.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1606/1044-3894.4002, Alternate LINK

Title: Resiliency And Social Support Networks In A Population Of Mexican American Intimate Partner Violence Survivors

Subject: Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

Journal: Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Authors: Martha Roditti, Pamela Schultz, Madeline Gillette, Ivan De La Rosa

Published: 2010-07-01

Everything You Need To Know

How does the concept of 'resilience' change our understanding of individuals affected by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)?

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has lasting effects. Resilience offers a different view, one that focuses on the strengths and potential for growth in individuals, families, and communities facing adversity. This approach acknowledges that while IPV causes deep wounds, individuals possess inner resources and coping mechanisms to overcome these challenges. By recognizing resilience, we shift from seeing those affected by IPV as helpless victims to understanding them as survivors with agency and the ability to heal. It's not about ignoring the challenges, but empowering people on their journey.

How did the understanding of help-seeking behaviors evolve to highlight the resilience of IPV survivors?

Early theories suggested that repeated exposure to abuse led to passivity. However, research revealed that many actively sought help and developed survival strategies. Recognizing this help-seeking behavior highlights the inherent strength and resourcefulness of survivors. This understanding reframes the narrative around IPV. Instead of questioning why someone stays in an abusive situation, we focus on how they survive. The concept of resilience becomes a source of hope, offering a path toward healing and empowerment. Factors like the severity of violence, access to services, cultural factors, and immigration status all affect a person's decision to seek help.

In what ways do social support networks contribute to resilience among Mexican American women who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)?

Social support networks play a crucial role in building resilience for Mexican American women facing IPV. Friends, neighbors, and formal services act as vital sources of support, providing emotional, practical, and informational assistance. These connections create a sense of belonging and validation, empowering survivors to navigate challenges and rebuild their lives. Further research into the impact of cultural beliefs and family dynamics on the recovery process can provide even greater insight. Further research would also include how to involve more cultural factors as protective social support.

What steps are essential to effectively support Mexican American women in overcoming Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and rebuilding their lives?

Supporting Mexican American women in overcoming Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) requires a multifaceted approach. Recognizing their cultural context, strengths, and the role of social support networks is crucial. By fostering resilience and ensuring access to culturally sensitive resources, we can empower them to regain control of their lives. This support enables them to rebuild and create a future free from violence. It's essential to acknowledge the impact of cultural beliefs and family dynamics on their recovery journey, tailoring support services to meet their specific needs.

Why has there been a shift in the approach to helping those who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)?

Professionals now focus on strengths and potential for growth due to the concept of resilience reshaping how professionals approach individuals, families, and communities facing adversity. Social support networks and interpersonal interactions are vital for resilience. Professionals now ask questions such as what parts of the IPV survivors' social networks are most supportive? The background of IPV must be understood, including specific information on Mexican American survivors, cultural competence, and the theoretical basis for research. In the 1980's this gained momentum and shifted the view of IPV survivors.