A University of Denver psychology professor explains why women could have remained silent about Cesar Chavez's alleged abuse.
Some said it was “for fear of tarnishing the image of a man who has become the face of the Latino civil rights movement.” Cesar Chavez became a national hero for his advocacy of farmworkers’ rights. Here he gives a talk at Boston University in April 1979.
that Mexican American civil rights hero Cesar Chavez assaulted them decades ago, including when some were just girls, one as young as thirteen. Over their multi-year investigation, published on March 18, journalists at the paper found “extensive evidence” of that abuse by poring over historical records and conducting interviews with more than sixty people.This research can help answer the question many asked when they heard about the charges against Chavez: Why didn’t the women speak earlier?How Colorado Tries to Protect Families With Children as Cuts to Federal Benefits LoomUnited Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta looks at a mural of the late Cesar Chavez on the San Jose State University campus in San Jose, Calif., on Sept. 4, 2008.Victims who depend on the people abusing them face extraordinary pressure to minimize what is happening. Disclosure can mean losing relationships or resources that are necessary for survival. Children abused by caregivers or community leaders risk relationships that they need to get their basic needs met. Adults who disclose abuse or harassment by employers risk losing their jobs and economic security.to keep victims silent. They might directly instruct victims not to tell others what happened. They might also tell victims that they are actually the ones to blame for causing the abuse or that no one will believe them.is a common response to traumatic stress that can include amnesia, feelings that things are unreal or feeling disconnected from what is happening. Dissociation and memory impairment can help victims maintain necessary attachments in the short run.has been linked with a greater likelihood of staying with an abusive partner a year after a police report of domestic violence.that they stayed silent about their abuse, which for some began when they were girls, in part “for fear of tarnishing the image of a man who has become the face of the Latino civil rights movement.” When people in marginalized groups are abused by someone from the same group, that constitutes an additional wound. Dr. Jennifer Gómez described this as “, along with Chavez, of what ultimately became the United Farm Workers union, told the newspaper that she “feared that no one within the union would believe her.”at some point in their lives why they kept what happened to themselves, they heard four common reasons. Women kept assaults private because they felt shame, guilt or embarrassment, minimized what happened, feared consequences of disclosing or wanted privacy.connecting people to resources and expressing empathy. In addition, institutions that act with courage in the wake of abuse, such as by making it easy to report or taking actions to prevent future abuse, Screenshot of an Instagram post by the Dolores Huerta Foundation in the wake of her revelations of abuse by Cesar Chavez.When survivors disclose, avoiding blame, disbelief and other negative reactions can minimize additional harm. Taking steps to offer emotional support and resources can even help open doors. That’s what my research team found when we asked sexual assault survivors about the reactions they received from service providers, such as counselors or victim advocates. When survivors received more tangible support, theyis a professor of psychology at the University of Colorado Denver. She is an advisory group member of the National Crime Victim Law Institute and a senior advisor to the Center for Institutional Courage.Westword has always been free, and we want to keep it that way. But we can no longer rely solely on advertising to support our newsroom. If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our work and keep Westword forever free.
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