An exploratory approach to violence against women in the State of Maranhão (Brazil): Should change the Maria da Penha Law?

• Published in: Methaodos : revista de ciencias sociales Vol. 3; no. 2
• Main Authors: Artenira da Silva e Silva Sauaia, Almudena García-Manso
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos 01-11-2015
• Subjects: genero; ley maria da penha; violencia contra la mujer; vulnerabilidad
• ISSN: 2340-8413; 2340-8413
• DOI: 10.17502/m.rcs.v3i2.86

This paper begins with a brief review of the current situation of violence against women in Brazilian context, focusing more in the Northeast and in the State of Maranhão. For this we will make a slight reference to studies and research on violence against women. Then we review the legislation on gender violence in particular No. 11,340 / 2006 and Law Maria da Penha Law, making a criticism of its use and failure to adapt to the realities of Brazilian society. In order to contrast the data analyzed in the reviewed studies and analysis of the scientific literature, we proceeded to perform, from a qualitative approach, an exploratory approach to the reality of violence against women in Maranhão. To that end, using qualitative techniques were carried out 12 in-depth interviews to women of different ages and socio-economic status. Two in-depth interviews with key informants –a Judge of the "Tercera Vara Especial de Combate à Violência Doméstica e Familiar Contra a Mulher" of the city of Sao Luis do Maranhão and prosecuted for domestic violence in rehabilitation man. A discussion group with 7 graduates and lawyers was also performed. In addition to participatory-indirect observation in the streets of the city of Sao Luis do Maranhão, recording the analysis in a field diary for a week.