Sin vergüenza: addressing shame with Latino victims of child sexual abuse and their families

J Child Sex Abus. 2007;16(1):61-83. doi: 10.1300/J070v16n01_04.

Abstract

This article explores shame issues for Latino children who have been sexually abused and their families. Latino cultural concerns around shame that are associated with sexual abuse include: attributions for the abuse, fatalism, virginity, sexual taboos, predictions of a shameful future, revictimization, machismo, and fears of homosexuality for boy victims, and the intersection of shame from sexual abuse with societal discrimination. Quotes and case material are drawn from the author's research and clinical work. The article includes clinical suggestions.

MeSH terms

  • Canada
  • Child
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / ethnology*
  • Child Abuse, Sexual / psychology*
  • Cultural Characteristics*
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Incest / ethnology
  • Incest / psychology
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Narration
  • Rape / psychology
  • Shame*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Taboo
  • United States
  • Women's Health