Approaches to patriarchal violence in sanitary institutions in Mendoza, Argentina

Abstract

Introduction: The appearance in public scenario of patriarchal violence, a problem historically considered as a private one, results in an increasing demand to public institutions, which receive claims, consultations, and reports about this subject. In this context, Argentinian sanitary institutions are questioned, and its intervention is required for preventing and assisting women in this situation.

Objective: This article proposes a reflection about the existing tensions in the approach made by sanitary institutions of patriarchal violence. From our professional experience in hospitals and medical education organizations -in Mendoza province, Argentina- we look forward to identifying critical knots that appear in the sanitary approaches to patriarchal violence. 

Methodology: This work is a reflection article, not a product of field research. It presents a critical theoretical reflection about a field of intervention. Having our professional experiences as basis, we took the contributions from feminist studies and health sociology, giving relevance to those produced in Latin-American contexts.

Conclusions: In order for agents of sanitary institutions to be able of intervene effectively and respectfully of human rights in cases of patriarchal violence it is necessary to recognize their own contributions to the problem. It means to identify that the violence codes are part of sanitary institutions and that public policies tend to reproduce the gender hierarchical structures. In interdisciplinary work and crossed sector cooperation we identify the possibility of giving more precise and effective answers to the suffering of women in violent situations.