Intimate Partner Violence in Mexico: Perspectives of Internal Migrant Women in Mexico City

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health concern affecting women worldwide, especially in Mexico. In a patriarchal society such as Mexico’s, IPV can be attributed to factors that have been ingrained throughout its societal history. These factors may include rigid gender roles, economic inequality, and the normalization of violence against women. For Mexican women who migrate internally to a large urban center like Mexico City, experiencing IPV may be exacerbated by discrimination and lack of healthcare and resources. Mexico has one of the highest femicide rates in the world (Hernández Gress, Flegl, Krstikj, & Boyes, 2023). Deep mistrust in a justice system that is male-dominated and seen as biased and unfair (Balmori de la Miyar, 2018) can increase IPV risks and worsen physical and mental health outcomes. To inform effective interventions with Mexican migrant women experiencing IPV, we must explore the context in which they live. The purpose of this study to explore the cultural, social, and political perspectives of Mexican internal migrant women in Mexico City on migration, IPV, and health.

Methods: A non-probability purposeful sampling technique was used to recruit Mexican migrant women (N=14) who migrated to Mexico City from rural Mexico in the three years prior to being interviewed. Inclusion criteria consisted of being a woman between the ages of 18 and 50, a Mexican national, and having experienced intimate partner violence. The recruitment plan was developed in collaboration with a Mexico-based research team, and included in person recruitment in local markets, transportation hubs, a college campus, faith-based agencies, and other public spaces (e.g., tourist sites). The researcher used open-ended questions relevant to the Mexico City context, to explore the women’s familial and cultural influences, their experiences of migration, their health concerns, and their experiences with intimate partner violence. Interviews were transcribed in the original language, Spanish, to maintain the cultural integrity of the stories shared by the women. Using the 7-step modified van Kaam (Moustakas, 1994) method for data analyses and MAXQDA© software, a detailed analysis was conducted through bracketing and imaginative variation (Moustakas, 1994; Yuksel & Yildirim, 2015).

Findings: The five primary “essences” (themes) identified by the women who were interviewed included: lacking family support to cope with IPV; fear and threats when they reported IPV; the feeling that Mexican society further victimized them; lacking support from authorities; and their cries for justice: to be heard, taken seriously, helped, for abusers to be punished, and for stronger laws to protect women in general.

Conclusion: Gender-rigid, patriarchal societal structures perpetuate conditions leading to IPV and keep women mired in a cycle of violence, despair, and isolation. The process of migration can lead to harmful health consequences for vulnerable migrant groups. It is crucial to attain a better understanding of the impact of IPV on the health and mental health of Mexican women, both in the U.S. and Mexico, to best inform policies that are tailored to meet their complex needs, and to develop and disseminate evidence-based prevention and treatment interventions.