They analyze the role of men in the eradication of violence against women
Santo Domingo. Within the framework of the “16 days of activism against violence” campaign, the Center for Gender Studies of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) made the panel “Male Responsibility in the Eradication of Violence against Women”, aimed at students, teachers, collaborating staff of that institution and the general public.
The purpose of the activity was to reflect on the ways of experiencing masculinity and its effects on the relationship of men with women, with other people and with themselves. Luis Vergés, director of the Behavioral Attention Center for Men and Natanael Disla, graduated from the "Dismantling of Aggressive Masculinity" course, taught by INTEC.
Vergés analyzed the weight of psychosocial factors in the assumption of violent behavior. He explained that many men develop various mechanisms to minimize or rationalize their violent behavior, such as shifting the responsibility of the aggression against the woman or reducing the impact of the damage they do to the woman.
It considered that it is necessary to strengthen the legal framework on violence, including categories that make violence against women visible, such as feminicide, and eliminating figures such as conciliation, which "proceed in the management of conflicts, but not violence, which is a crime " He pleaded for the existing structures to be expanded and strengthened to address violence, which he considered insufficient. He said that we must challenge the paradigm of understanding the phenomenon, because "there are still people who pathologize violence, psychiatry, when in fact it is a multi-causal, bio-psychosocial phenomenon".
Speaking on the panel, Natanael Disla considered that to eradicate violence requires the sustained and constant action of men aimed at overcoming macho behaviors, "like believing that women are less than men or that they are possessions of men, believe that women are to serve men, and believe that there are things that men can do and women can not, and vice versa. " He called on men to be part of spaces that allow a sincere conversation about how to overcome macho behaviors and how to concretize expressions of affection and companionship. He said that these spaces should also serve to influence the establishment of public policies aimed at men "that lead to eradicate violence against women and sexist behavior."
The activity also spoke Isaura Cotes, Coordinator of the Program of Prevention and Attention to Violence, the Center for Gender Studies, who highlighted the work done by that instance with the support of Philip Morris Dominican for the strengthening of five local networks for the prevention, attention and eradication of violence in the municipalities of Guerra, Santo Domingo Norte and Santo Domingo Este and the provinces of Azua and San Pedro de Macorís.
The opening words were given by Migdalia Martínez, from the Humanities Area and Desiree del Rosario Sosa, Academic Coordinator of the Gender Studies Center, who served as moderator of the panel, where Elsa López, Deputy Dean of the Humanities Department also participated.