INTEC analyzes the challenges for building a culture of peace in the Dominican Republic through a gender approach
The discussion emphasized why peace cannot be analyzed without a gender perspective. It explored how patriarchal systems perpetuate specific forms of violence and how, historically, women have borne a disproportionate burden of reproductive and care work.
SANTO DOMINGO – High levels of daily hostility, socioeconomic inequality, gender violence, and migratory tensions that fragment social peace are some of the challenges facing Dominican society in achieving a culture of peace.
This conclusion was reached by Dr. Mónica Salcedo Díez, a professor and researcher at the University of Valladolid, Spain, who is currently undertaking an academic stay at the Center for Gender Studies of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), by participating in the discussion Coffee with gender: A culture of peace. What if we reach an agreement?
This dialogue, aimed at the student and academic community, served as a forum to reflect on the dynamics of violence, inequality, and the fundamental role of a gender perspective in building peaceful societies. The event was supported by INTEC faculty, who facilitated student attendance.
The meeting was led by Dr. Desirée del Rosario Sosa, coordinator of CEG-INTEC, and featured a keynote address by Salcedo Díez. The event was organized by the Café con Género team, comprised of Jenifer Vanderhorst and Yasilys Andujar.
During her welcoming remarks, Del Rosario Sosa emphasized the importance of focusing on the university's internal dynamics. “The Center for Gender Studies regularly engages in many activities outside the university. However, internal discussions about the implications of a gender perspective, working from a human rights approach, and addressing issues that concern us are fundamental. For the past two years, we have been inviting students to discuss these topics,” she stated.
Beyond the absence of armed conflicts
During her speech, Dr. Salcedo Diéz stated that a culture of peace is not limited to the absence of wars or active conflicts, but requires an ecosystem that guarantees respect for life, equal opportunities, and the dignity of all people.
Through a participatory exercise, INTEC students analyzed the Dominican context, concluding that, although the country does not face international armed conflicts, it experiences other forms of fragmentation of social peace such as hostility, inequality, widespread violence, among others.
To explain these dynamics, Salcedo used sociologist Johan Galtung's Violence Triangle theory, which addresses three interconnected axes in society. On the one hand, direct violence manifests itself in visible physical and verbal aggression, noting that 63% of children and adolescents aged 1 to 14 in certain areas of the country suffer violence in their homes under the pretext of discipline.
On the other hand, structural violence encompasses the systematic inequalities perpetuated by institutions, such as the lack of decent living conditions, job insecurity, and impunity for crimes like femicide. Finally, cultural violence underpins the former through ideas, discourses, and media representations that legitimize violence, including the sexualization of women, the normalization of child punishment, and the dissemination of hate speech or xenophobia.
Gender as a cross-cutting theme for peace
The discussion emphasized why peace cannot be analyzed without a gender perspective. It explored how patriarchal systems perpetuate specific forms of violence and how, historically, women have borne a disproportionate burden of reproductive and care work.
“We cannot speak of a culture of peace if there is a culture of violence in opposition. In the Dominican Republic, there is violence against women, and gender is completely linked to the power structures that we must dismantle,” reflected one of the participating students, validating the position that questioning privileges is an uncomfortable but necessary step.
Salcedo concluded the meeting by noting that peace agreements negotiated and overseen by women are 20% to 35% more likely to be sustained in the long term. She also reminded those present that building peace is a shared responsibility. “We have room to act at all three levels of violence. From how we resolve personal conflicts and what content we consume on social media, to what kind of public policies we support.”
The event concluded with an open invitation to the INTEC community to visit the Center for Gender Studies, located on the second floor of the Los Fundadores Annex Building, to continue proposing discussion topics that contribute to equity and human rights.
About INTEC
El Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) is a Dominican institution of higher education of a private, non-profit nature, which since its founding in 1972 has stood out for its academic excellence and its contribution to the social transformation of the country through science and technology.