Healing the psychological wounds of gender-related violence in Latin America: A model for gender-sensitive work in post-conflict contexts

Trauma and Gender

“…In both conflict‐affected and peaceful environments, violent masculinities and femininities are shaped by socially constructed and perpetuated norms related to the use of violence (EL Jack, ). With that said, it is important to highlight that the relationships and boundaries between men and women in the social spheres vary across societies (Leslie, ) and that in most cases, the roles and activities associated with the domestic realm (roles performed by women) are usually ascribed lower status which gives women less access to power in the public realms of society. Such gender boundaries can be illustrated under apartheid in South Africa where gender played a significant role in shaping the actions of individual men and women in resisting suppression and experiencing oppression.…”

“…Furthermore, men and women often die in differing ways and are tortured and abused in different ways during conflict which may be due to biological, psychological or social reasons (Rehn & Sirleaf, ). Leslie () indicates that gender‐related violence in political conflict, particularly sexual violence, is often intentionally designed to violate women's dignity and identity. Gendered violence (in the form of physical and sexual torture) employed to humiliate women is often executed through gang rape, body slashing, especially of nipples and breasts, different forms of beating, rape by trained dogs and penetration and decimation of women's genitalia by electric rods.…”

“…The military, in countries like Argentina, Chile and El Salvador, also used psychological torture, designed to exploit the female psychological connection with others. This gendered suffering took many painful forms including the threat of and actual torture of women's children in front of them, raping of heavily pregnant women in front of other women, women having to endure the screams of other women being tortured and raped nearby, and the delivery of false news concerning the death or torture of loved ones (Leslie, ).…”

“…Gender‐related violence acts to disempower women by terrorising them into submission and by instilling in them the sense of helplessness. This form of violence affects women's mental health, by draining their self‐esteem and self‐confidence, limiting their capacity to solve their own problems, as well as their capacity to develop relationships with others (Leslie, ).…”

“…This has assisted them to develop new social networks, and extend beyond traditional family ties for support (Denham, ). Leslie () noted that a global review of women and mental health has concluded that women are excellent copers despite their subordination, economic deprivation and lack of control over their life circumstances.…”