Venezuelan female perception of gender violence

Abstract

This research aimed to understand Venezuelan women’s perceptions of gender-based violence, acknowledging that each experience is unique and that each woman assigns her own meaning to the events she undergoes. To achieve this, a qualitative approach was adopted, employing a phenomenological method, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with four Venezuelan women residing in the country, aged between 22 and 57, who had experienced gender-based violence. The information obtained was analyzed and categorized, revealing the cultural role as a determining factor. The normalization of submission, the acceptance of abuse, and hopelessness were evident as common feelings among the victims, who often see escape as the only way out. These findings suggest that gender-based violence is perceived as a negative construct rooted in cultural beliefs.