Violence against women in Mexico: conceptualization and program application

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Gender Studies

Background:

• Violence against women is a persistent global issue, exacerbated in developing countries by cultural norms condoning male dominance.
• Existing legal protections in Mexico have not effectively translated into improved lives for women facing violence.
• International and Mexican legal advancements are insufficient to alter social norms that tolerate violence against females.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review international and Mexican legal advancements concerning violence against women.
• To highlight the limitations of legal remedies in changing social norms.
• To present the experience of the Mexican Institute for Research on Family and Population (IMIFAP) in designing and implementing violence prevention programs.

Main Methods:

• Overview of legal remedies and their impact.
• Case study of IMIFAP's intervention programs.
• Focus on participatory workshops to develop psychosocial skills and knowledge.
• Application of the Framework for Enabling Agentic Empowerment (FENAE).

Main Results:

• Legal advances alone do not change social norms or reduce violence against women.
• IMIFAP's participatory workshops promote self-reflection, leading to more egalitarian gender relationships.
• The FENAE framework integrates skills, knowledge, and context to foster agentic empowerment.
• Programs contribute to healthier, more productive lives beyond violence prevention.

Conclusions:

• Addressing violence against women requires interventions beyond legal frameworks, focusing on social norms and behavior change.
• Community-based programs that empower women psychosocially are effective in preventing violence.
• Integrated approaches that foster agentic empowerment lead to broader improvements in well-being and economic productivity.