FROM DOMESTICITY TO THE DOCKET: EXAMINING THE JUDICIALIZATION OF PRIVATE LIFE AND ITS IMPACT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Abstract

This paper examines the lived experiences of violence among Brazilian women who had coped with abuse at the hands of their husbands, partners, or boyfriends and had sought a protective measure. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 women. The data was subjected to Discourse Analysis using Spink's method of meanings association. The findings indicate that these women experienced a range of forms of violence, including emotional, physical, economic, and sexual abuse. Some women remained in violent relationships for an extended period, in part due to an idealized romantic notion of a "prince charming" and "caregiver" who would protect them from the dangers of the external world, a reinforced belief by the internalization of patriarchal values. When these women attempted to interrupt the cycle of violence and sought assistance, they encountered a justice system that was unable to safeguard them. The lack of operator training emerges as a significant finding, contributing to the revictimization of women. Women frequently experienced blame for the abuse and felt helpless in their efforts to protect their children. The results of our study indicate that women frequently experience feelings of insecurity when disclosing their life stories in a public setting. The justice system is ineffective when it perpetuates gender-traditional stereotypes without considering the dynamics of violence within intimate relationships. These dynamics are reinforced by the power imbalance between men and women within a patriarchal society.