Gender and Intimate Partner Violence in Latino Immigrant Neighborhoods

Abstract

Some quantitative studies indicate that overall rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) are lower in Latino immigrant neighborhoods, but numerous qualitative studies suggest residing in Latino immigrant enclaves increases women’s risk of IPV victimization. We examine the association between neighborhood Latino immigrant concentration and (1) overall IPV and (2) tendencies towards female IPV victimization among resident couples. Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) and the 1990 census, we first apply Osgood and Schreck’s (Criminology 45:273–312, 2007) statistical approach for examining criminal specialization to quantify overall IPV and tendencies toward female IPV victimization across couples and neighborhoods. We then test the association between Latino immigrant concentration in neighborhoods and resident couples’ overall and gendered IPV patterns. Results indicate that as neighborhood-level Latino immigrant concentration increased, overall IPV was lower among resident couples, but IPV tended to be directed at women when it occurred. Our study underscores the importance of distinguishing between tendencies toward symmetric versus unidirectional IPV when assessing the association between couple violence within Latino immigrant communities.