This study examined rates of physical and sexual violence among 280 Latina sexual minority women. Two-thirds reported at least one victimization experience. Sexual violence was more common before age 18 while physical and combined violence were equally likely before and after 18. Those experiencing childhood victimization were least likely to seek help. Outreach is needed to address prevalence of violence in this population and overcome stigma, while clinicians should assess for victimization histories. Education is also needed about reporting violence and available resources.

1. BACKGROUND
METHODS
RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
IMPLICATIONS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Experiencias de la Mujer: Latina Sexual Minority
Women’s Experiences of Physical and Sexual Violence
Jennie Thai, B.A., Alicia K. Matthews, Ph.D., Frances Aranda, Ph.D., MPH
Violence against women is a major public health
concern. Sexual minority women (SMW: lesbian,
bisexual, and non-heterosexual) are at known risk
for victimization; however, little is known about
experiences of violence among SMW of color. The
purpose of this study was to examine rates of
self-reported physical and sexual violence
experiences, age of occurrence, and actions taken
in response to violence (notifying the police
and/or seeking medical or psychological
treatment) among a diverse sample of Latina
SMW.
Data were collected via a 299-item, cross-
sectional, community profile survey of Latina
SMW (N=280) living in a large Midwestern city.
The questions we focused on were as follows:
Physical violence was assessed by asking:
1. Have you ever been physically attacked
without a weapon?
2. Have you ever been physically attacked with a
weapon?
3. Have you ever been physically attacked by a
partner?
4. Have you ever been physically abused by a
parent or guardian?
Sexual violence was measured by asking:
1. Has a stranger ever forced you into sexual
activity?
2. Have you ever been forced into sexual activity
by someone you know that’s not a partner or
relative?
3. Has a partner ever forced you into sexual
activity?
4. Have you ever been sexually abused by a
parent, guardian, or relative?
Follow-up questions if “Yes” to the above
questions:
1. Did the violence occur before age 18?
2. Did the violence occur after age 18?
3. Was it reported to the police?
4. Did you get medical or psychological
treatment?
Bitch To Quit Research Team
UIC Writing Group
Kenny Oyama, M.S.
Total Sample
N = 280
Demographic Variablesa n %
Education
High school or less
Some college / tech. /
vocation
College degree
Graduate/prof. degree
41
96
80
63
14.6
34.3
28.6
22.5
Sexual identity
Lesbian
Bisexual
Other
148
27
63
62.2
11.3
26.5
Ethnic identity
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other
125
63
89
45.1
22.7
32.1
Citizenship
No
Yes
36
54
40.0
60.0
Experiences of Violence na %
No violence
Sexual violence only
Physical violence only
Both types of violence
51
23
44
103
23.1
10.4
19.9
46.6
51%
16%
18%
15%
Actions Taken in Response to Victimization (n=167)
Took no action
Reported it to police
only
Received treatment
only
Reported and received
treatment
Types of Violent Experiences
No
violence
(n=51,
23.5%)
Only
sexual
violence
(n=20,
9.2%)
Only
physical
violence
(n=43,
19.8%)
Both types
of violence
(n=103,
47.5%)
Total
(N=217)
Age at which
violence
occurred
na % na % na % na % na %
No violence 51 100.
0
0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 51 100.
0
Before 18
only
0 0.0 13 37.1 13 37.1 9 25.7 35 100.
0
After 18 only 0 0.0 4 13.3 17 56.7 9 30.0 30 100.
0
Before and
after 18
0 0.0 3 9.2 13 12.9 85 84.2 101 100.
0
Consistent with existing literature, the rates of
physical and sexual violence experiences were
common in this sample of Latina SMW. Two-thirds
of our study participants reported at least one
victimization experience. Most alarming were the
rates of re-victimization and poly-victimization.
Sexual violence was more common before the age
of 18 than in adulthood with rates of physical and
combined types equally likely to occur in
adolescence and adulthood. Participants who
reported childhood victimization experiences were
the least likely to engage in help-seeking.
Actions in Response to Violence
No action Took action Total Χ2 p-value
Age at which violence
occurred na % na % na % 17.47 .001
Before 18 only 26 76.5 8 23.5 34 100
After 18 only 19 65.5 10 34.5 29 100
Before and after 18 39 38.6 62 61.5 101 100
Total 84 51.2 80 48.8 164
Type of violence experienced
na % na % na % 12.37 .002
Sexual violence only 15 68.2 7 31.8 22 100
Physical violence only 29 69.0 13 31.0 42 100
Both types of violence 42 40.8 61 59.2 103 100
Total 86 51.5 81 48.5 167
aNumber of valid responses for variables
aNumber of valid responses for variables; Χ2(9)=301.84, p=.001
aNumbers and percentages differ due to missing data.
Outreach efforts are needed to raise awareness
about the prevalence of violence within the Latina
SMW population. More information and resources
are needed for this population to overcome any
potential shame or stigma that may result from
having experienced violence. Clinical providers
working with adolescents and adult SMW should,
in a culturally competent manner, assess for and
address histories of victimization in this
population. Education and awareness programs
are needed to inform children and adolescents
about the importance of reporting experiences of
violence and making children and parents aware
of available resources. Finally, efforts to create
and make available culturally competent outreach
and victim advocacy services are needed to
address the lack of actions taken by Latina SMW
who have experienced violence.