Abuse affects Latina women at alarming rates, with many experiencing intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), Latina women are more likely to experience abuse than women of other ethnicities. The trauma and stress caused by abuse can have severe and long-lasting effects on survivors' physical and mental health, as well as their overall well-being.
Latina women in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault, and other forms of gender‑based abuse. While scholars have documented structural, cultural, and interpersonal risk factors, the body of work produced by Cassandra Cruz—particularly her ethnographic studies, community‑based intervention research, and theoretical framings of “survivor‑centered empowerment”—offers a distinctive lens for understanding these dynamics. This paper critically reviews Cruz’s scholarship (2008‑2024), situates it within broader debates on Latina abuse, and identifies methodological and policy gaps that future research must address. By synthesizing Cruz’s findings with complementary literature, the paper argues for a multi‑level, intersectional approach that foregrounds survivor agency, transnational ties, and the role of grassroots organizations in mitigating abuse. Recommendations for scholars, service providers, and policymakers are presented. latina abuse cassandra cruz work