Violencia en parellas xóvenes : papel sobre os mitos do amor romántico e as actitudes sexistas

Abstract

A violencia en parellas xoves constitúe un fenómeno alarmante debido ás elevadas cifras de prevalencia e ás consecuencias que acarean tales agresións para a saúde das persoas involucradas. A teoría feminista denuncia que as falacias que propugna o amor romántico, xunto cas crenzas sobre a suposta inferioridade da muller como grupo humano, promoven dinámicas de dominación-submisión dentro da parella e facilitarían a aparición dos abusos. Partindo desta perspectiva, preténdese indagar no papel que xogan as actitudes sexistas e os mitos sobre o amor na violencia durante o noivado. Para elo, cóntase cunha mostra de 413 xoves galegos, 91 homes e 322 mulleres, que tiveron algunha experiencia en relacións amorosas. Os participantes cubriron diversos cuestionarios vía online para medir as variables obxectivo, como as agresións cometidas e sufridas no contexto de parella. As taxas de prevalencia de ataques físicos e psicoemocionais foron relativamente baixas. Sen embargo, os abusos relacionados con tácticas de control e acoso aparecen cunha frecuencia moi elevada. Ademais, esta clase de abusos parecen estar facilitados pola interiorización de ideas sexistas e crenzas irracionais sobre o amor, cun efecto máis notable no sexo masculino. As actitudes machistas animarían a utilizar a violencia como medio para exercer poder e dominar á parella. Paralelamente, a ideoloxía romántica representa algunhas estratexias coercitivas como unha mostra de compromiso cara a relación, facendo máis probable que sexan empregadas e toleradas polo individuo. Recálcase a necesidade de seguir traballando no desmantelamento dos estereotipos de xénero tradicionais e na construción dun modelo de relación amorosa afastado dos tópicos nocivos do ideal romántico, en vistas a previr a violencia en parellas xovesDating violence is an alarming issue due to its high prevalence and the serious damage it causes to the people’s health involved in it. Feminist theory claims that romantic myths about love and sexist beliefs about the woman’s inferiority contribute to the establishment of a relationship structure where one partner is dominated by the other. In turn, this leads to the emergence of abuses during the courtship. This research investigates the role that sexist attitudes and irrational ideas about love play in dating violence. To this end, 413 young people were recruited (91 men; 322 women), who have had at least one dating experience. Participants completed one online survey which measured target variables of the investigation, namely aggressions perpetrated and suffered during the courtship. Prevalence ratios of physical and emotional assaults were low compared to previous researches. However, violence associated with control tactics and harassment became too frequent. This type of abuses seems to be facilitated by the acceptance of sexist ideals and irrational beliefs about love, specially among men. Sexist attitudes promote the use of violence in order to assert power and dominate the intimate partner. Romantic myths also lead to interpret some coercive strategies as a sign of commitment to the relationship, thereby facilitating that young people conduct and tolerate those aggressive behaviours. Prevention programs of dating violence must keep working on the breakdown of traditional gender stereotypes. Furthermore, there is a need to focus on the construction of an alternative relationship model for young people, which excludes the toxic topics of the romantic love.