Summary And Discussions - Dissertation Example

Introduction: This research has concerned itself with analyzing the concept of domestic violence within the Hispanic people. The research is motivated on the fact that there is serious debate in the United States concerning the presence of immigrants in the country. Majority of immigrants are of Hispanic origin, and they are always associated with violence and an increase in insecurity in the United States. This immigration debate is always a subject of political campaigns, with voters on the need of knowing the immigration policy of various presidential candidates. However, one major area that is always overlooked is on the issue of domestic violence amongst the Hispanic people (Bergad and Herbert, 2010). This research has extensively looked in this area of domestic violence amongst the Hispanic community, and it identifies one of the major causes of domestic violence as poverty. This paper managed to critically look at this concept of poverty and how it accelerates domestic violence within the Hispanic community. Through this research, the researcher was able to find that majority of the Hispanic people are living under poverty. This is because they are immigrants, and on most occasions, they are unable to find good jobs that can sustain them in the United States. Furthermore, this paper discusses the notion that poverty is not the only cause of domestic violence amongst the Hispanic community. Another cause is cultural practice and belief of the Hispanic people, who believe that the male gender is more superior to the female gender. On this basis, the male Hispanics normally try to impose their dominance over women through violence. However, majority of this research focused on poverty, and how it leads to domestic violence amongst the Hispanic people. Based on these facts, the researcher’s main thesis was that; Poverty is the major cause of domestic violence amongst the Hispanic people. In defending this thesis, the researcher embarked on a series of measures aimed at analyzing the patterns of domestic violence within the Hispanic people. In this approach, the research looked for information that identified the percentage of Hispanic people living under poverty, the percentage of domestic violence within the Hispanic people, the percentage of domestic violence amongst the Hispanic people who are poor, other causes of domestic violence within the Hispanic people, and the group that is most vulnerable to these domestic attacks. On this note, the above issues were the main objectives of the researcher. In summary, the following are the objectives that the researcher came up with; Finding the percentage of domestic violence suffered by the Hispanic people. Finding the percentage of domestic violence that is caused by poverty amongst the Hispanic people. Finding the percentage of Hispanic people living under poverty. Other factors that cause domestic violence amongst the Hispanics. Finding the group of people within the Hispanics who are most vulnerable to domestic violence. The researcher used the philosophy of descriptive research in meeting the objectives of this research. Descriptive research involved collection of data, without making changes to the environment where the data under consideration is found (Bergad and Herbert, 2010). Furthermore, the use of descriptive approach was more sensible, mainly because it was used to collect information regarding the behavior of the Hispanic people. This is one major characteristic of descriptive research, and it suited this research because the aim of this research was to analyze the behavior of a particular group of people, that is the Hispanic people. The method used in carrying out this research was qualitative in nature. Qualitative research involves the use of words for purposes of collecting data regarding in order to meet the objectives of this research. The researcher in a bid to collect data used both the primary and secondary methods of data collection. The primary method of data collection used was surveys, and it proved essential in the bid of the researcher to collect the relevant information used in this research. This is because the researcher was able to get information from people who have actually experienced the violence. On this basis, the information collected was reliable and relevant. The researcher also used secondary methods of data collection, and this included books, journals, and newspaper cuttings. These methods were very useful to researcher because he was using information that has already been tested and proved to be correct. On this note, the information collected under this method of data collection was reliable and relevant. The researcher also developed a series of methods and measures aimed at controlling the data under consideration. This included creating different sections for various parts of the research, and outlining the requirements of the sections, and the kind of information needed for these sections. This was useful in helping the researcher to collect the necessary data, hence making the data collected to be reliable and relevant. Summary of Results: Data collected under Sub-Question 1: Percentage of Hispanic People living below poverty: Under this section, the researcher collected information through observations and surveys. It is important to understand that surveys are an efficient method of primary method of data collection. This technique was very useful to the researcher, mainly because it was cheap and easy to collect information from a wide and large audience. On this basis, the information collected is reliable and relevant (Bergad and Herbert, 2010). The main method used in collecting information through surveys was the internet. This method was convenient to the researcher mainly because it was very cheap, when compared to other methods of conducting surveys. This is because all that the researcher needed to do was to post the survey forms at the internet, and wait for the respondents to fill in the survey. It is important to denote that the researcher had to wait for an entire week before getting respondents to fill in the survey forms. This forced the researcher to use the social media, specifically face book and twitter to direct people at the site in which they could get the survey forms (Tiend and Faith, 2006). The response was good, as the researcher was able to get many people who filled the survey forms. This was a great achievement to the researcher, because people gave in information that was relevant and accurate. The researcher is able to ascertain that the information was relevant because in analyzing the results of the surveys, the researcher was able to compare the results collected, with the results emanating from secondary research. It is important to denote that the main secondary source of information was government census. These census reports covered the period of 2010. Getting this information was not difficult, because the government runs a website, referred to as the Bureau of US. It is important to understand that the census reports were very reliable, since it emanated from government institutions, which normally use such reports in planning for their population. It is important to provide an explanation that one of the major lessons learnt from this procedure is that to achieve reliability and relevance when gathering data using primary research, there is a need of the researcher to use both primary and secondary methods of data collection. In this instance, the primary method of data collection was the surveys. On this basis, there was need of confirming the results of the surveys, with the results of secondary data that is information obtained from the census reports. In our case, the census reports depicted that the percentage of poverty amongst the Hispanic people is 26.6%. It is important to denote that this is the same results that the surveys were able to depict (Bergad and Herbert, 2010). However, under the results of the surveys, the researcher was only able to come up with an average score on the level of poverty amongst the Hispanic community. This percentage average score was approximately 25.9%. When rounded off, this percentage score was 26%. This percentage is the same as the percentage obtained from the results of the census reports, which are + ve or –ve 1. On this basis, it is therefore possible to denote that the results of the surveys are equal, because they correspond with the results of the census reports. Having an understanding of these results is essential because it would help in proving the assertion that poverty is the major cause of domestic violence amongst the Hispanic community. The researcher used this information for purposes of comparing the rates of domestic violence amongst the poor Hispanics, and the rich Hispanics. It is important to understand that from this information, we can denote that 73.4% of the Hispanic people are not living under poverty. Sub-Question 2: Percentage of Domestic Violence occurring amongst the Hispanics. In collecting information to answer this sub-question, the researcher mainly relied on surveys. Just as discussed earlier, surveys was a simple and cheaper method of primary data collection. There were numerous lessons learnt under this procedure, and the lessons included, the best and the most effective methods of using online surveys, the best ways of drafting an online survey, and how to make people fill these online surveys in the most effective and efficient manner. For instance, the researcher learnt that the best method of developing an online survey is coming up with simple questions that are easy to fill. The target population must also identify with these questions, and hence they will be able to provide accurate and relevant information. On this note, challenges emanated when it came to developing questionnaires for the survey (Muniz, 2014). The researcher had to look at various samples from the internet, for purposes of coming up with a design of the questionnaire that was good and attractive. This in turn would attract the target population in filling out the forms. Furthermore, under this sub-question, the researcher learnt on the importance of observing ethics in a research. This is because anytime, the researcher managed to get a respondent, the person could ask the reasons for the survey, and whether the information given would be confidential. Ethics plays an important role in improving the confidence of a population (Muniz, 2014). People need to know the reasons for the research, and on this basis, the researcher had to tell them on why the research was important and the reasons for the research. By giving them these reasons, the researcher managed to make them confident, and hence they filled out the survey forms without fear, and accurately. From this research, the researcher was able to find out that over 50% of Hispanic families experience domestic violence. This is an indication that both the rich and the poor Hispanics normally experience domestic violence. However, it was necessary for the researcher to find out the percentage of domestic violence occurring amongst the Hispanic people, living under poverty and as well as the rich. This result therefore indicates that 50% of the Hispanics are able to experience domestic violence. Furthermore, the type of violence varies, and they include marital rape, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, etc. Sub-Question 3: Domestic Violence and Poverty: Under this section, the researcher also used surveys and secondary research to collect information. Under this section, the researcher learnt that poverty plays a great role in promoting domestic violence amongst the Hispanic community. Due to poverty, the Hispanics are always stressed up, and depressed. This in turn makes them to turn violent against their family members. Poverty is the leading factor of domestic violence amongst the Hispanics; this is as obtained from the results of the surveys (Fisman and Edward, 2008). In answering this sub-question, the researcher was able to find out that there is very little research on the causes of domestic violence amongst the Hispanic community. However, through primary research, the researcher managed to gather data on how poverty causes domestic violence amongst the Hispanic community. This is mainly by increasing the stress level of these people, hence making them violent. Sub-Question 4: Other Causes of Domestic Violence: Another major cause of domestic violence learnt from this research is culture. The Hispanics believe that the male member of the family is the most dominant, and must be obeyed. On this basis, the male Hispanics normally seek to manipulate and control the female members of their families. This is a major cause of violence within the community. This is because the Hispanics believe that the best way of controlling these people, is through the use of violence (Jindra, 2014). In collecting this information, the researcher relied on journals, books and newspaper cuttings. One lesson learnt is that it is always essential for any information to be verified through analyzing different sources of information. For instance, culture as a source of domestic violence amongst the Hispanics is a supported fact by various social science experts. The Hispanic cultures is male centric, and has little provision for the rights of women. Sub-Question5: The Most Vulnerable Group: From this researcher, the most vulnerable group suffering from domestic violence are women. This is because they are seen as the weaker members of the society, and the cultural practice of the Hispanics, which is male centric. Children are also vulnerable from domestic violence, but not when compared to women. On the other hand, research indicates that there are pockets of domestic violence targeted at the male members of the Hispanic community. This normally takes the form of emotional abuse (Muniz, 2014). On the other hand, women face physical violence, marital rape, emotional violence, etc. Relationship to the Study Field: This research was able to focus on the poverty and how it plays a role in facilitating domestic violence amongst the Hispanic community. In coming up with the facts, the researcher was able to find out that poverty increases the stress level of the Hispanic people, hence making them vulnerable to committing violence against their family members (Fisman and Edward, 2008). Furthermore, the poor amongst the Hispanic community are approximately 26%. Furthermore, from the results of the surveys, violence occurs in 50% of the homes of the Hispanics. From this research, the researcher was able to find that it is the poor families amongst the Hispanic community that are vulnerable to poverty. This is because to high stress level caused by poverty, and inadequate education (Muniz, 2014). On this basis, this research was able to answer the research question and meet its objectives. Discussion of Results: The significance of this finding is that poverty is the root cause of domestic violence amongst the Hispanic community, and there is a need of coming up with policies and measures of tackling poverty amongst this group of people. Furthermore, this work is important because it gives out the ways in which poverty causes domestic violence amongst the Hispanics. Furthermore, it identifies the most vulnerable group to this violence (Fisman and Edward, 2008). This would help policy makers to come up with measures of protecting Hispanic women and children from domestic violence. From this research, they are the most vulnerable group to domestic violence. Conclusion: In this research, by answering the five sub-questions, the researcher was able to defend the assertions that poverty plays a role in promoting domestic violence amongst the Hispanics. This is because the sub-questions provided the researcher with an opportunity to understand the link between poverty and domestic violence. On this basis, this research was able to answer the major question through the answers provided in the sub-questions. References: Bergad, Laird W., and Herbert S. (2010) Klein.Hispanics in the United States: a demographic, social, and economic history, 1980-2005. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Fisman, Raymond, and Edward Miguel. (2008) Economic gangsters: corruption, violence, and the poverty of nations. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Jindra, Michael. (2014) "The Dilemma of Equality and Diversity." Current Anthropology 1: 000. Print. Muniz, Ana. (2014) "Maintaining Racial Boundaries: Criminalization, Neighborhood Context, and the Origins of Gang Injunctions." Social Problems 62.2: 216-232. Tienda, Marta, and Faith Mitchell. (2006) Multiple origins, uncertain destinies Hispanics and the American future. 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