Defense Date
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Dr. Traci Wike
Second Advisor
Dr. Nicole Corley
Third Advisor
Dr. Oswaldo Moreno
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Melissa Grady
Fifth Advisor
Dr. Jamie Yoder
Abstract
Families of youth who have sexually offended often suffer significant collateral consequences following the discovery of the sexual offense. Samples in research with these families disproportionately consist of mothers and other female parental figures. This is rarely acknowledged in the literature, and the experiences of these mothers have not been explicitly examined. In addition, research on the experiences of these families has largely ignored factors related to race and ethnicity. This is a significant oversight considering the prevalence of systemic racism and discrimination in the United States, particularly in the systems with which these families must interact (e.g., juvenile justice system). The aim of this reflexive thematic analysis study is to address these gaps in the literature by better understanding the challenges facing Latina mothers in the wake of youth sexual offending from the perspectives of therapists. This study applies social-ecological theory to frame and organize inquiry about the impact of youth sexual offending at multiple systemic levels. Additionally, Latina feminism and phenomenology philosophy are used to contextualize and situate data obtained from interviews with therapists regarding these mothers' interactions with structures of power in the aftermath of the offense. By illuminating specific issues pertaining to Latina mothers from the perspectives of the therapists who intimately work with them, this study can contribute to the development of future culturally sensitive research aimed at supporting this population. Moreover, its findings may provide clinicians with a contextual understanding of Latina mothers’ unique circumstances, thereby improving their ability to build more effective and culturally responsive interventions in their work with this population. Lastly, this study can serve to inform or revise current juvenile sex offending policy by adding a much-needed cultural understanding to this population’s unique experiences.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-10-2024