Living dead: Suspended lives during/after gender violence

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Gender Studies
• Criminology

Background:

• Sociological discourse often assumes 'life' as a given, overlooking its complexities.
• Existing research on violence frequently distinguishes between the time during and after violent events.
• Gender violence significantly impacts victims' perceptions and experiences of life post-event.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the sociological notion of life as a passive state.
• To introduce and explore the concept of life as 'making a life'.
• To analyze the lived experiences of women survivors of gender violence in Spain.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative field research conducted in Spain.
• Focus on the experiences of victims of gender violence.
• Analysis of the temporal dimensions of violence: during and after.

Main Results:

• Victims of gender violence describe life after the violence as a continuous state of 'living death'.
• The distinction between 'during' and 'after' violence highlights prolonged suffering.
• Evidence suggests that 'life' for survivors is not merely existing but a struggle.

Conclusions:

• Life after gender violence is characterized by a profound sense of ongoing suffering, akin to a 'living death'.
• Sociological understanding of life needs to evolve from a passive state to an active process of 'making a life'.
• This reframing is crucial for understanding the long-term impacts of violence and supporting survivors.