Reflexiones is a multidisciplinary Journal of the Faculty of Social Sciences edited by the University of Costa Rica, with a semiannual periodicity (january-june and july-december), and strives for academic reflection on the world social reality, in particular, the one of Latin America. It constitutes a space for knowledge production that contributes in the Social Sciences field. The articles it publishes are theoretically and methodologically grounded and are the product of research and academic work. The target audience includes teachers, researchers and student community on a national and international level. Reflexiones Journal areas of interest: Areas of interest Subtopics Social inequalities - Disabilities - Violence - Economic inequality and poverty - Economic power groups and elites - Racism - Xenophobia - Social exclusion Society and Environment - Land use and urban planning - Cities and urbanization processes - Rural spaces and rurality - Socio-environmental and territorial conflicts - Risk and disasters - Tourism - Nature conservation - Global warming and climate change - Natural commons and extractivism Power and political processes - Public policy and the state - Civil society - Political economy - Political regimes and systems - Electoral processes - Human Rights - Social control - Public space - Citizen security Social Communication - Political communication and public opinion - Organizational communication and public relations - Digital communication and society - Communicative citizenship, media and democracy - Narratives and communication - Communication for development Indigenous peoples - Indigenous peoples - Indigenous peoples - Ethnicity and power Social movements and political participation - Repertoires of political action - Social protest - Political art - Organizational processes Genders, feminisms and diversities - Feminist epistemologies - Sexual and gender identities - Gender-based discrimination - Sexism and gender gaps Migrations, human mobility and border populations - Migration policy - Trajectories and displacement - Forced displacement - Refuge and political asylum - Cross-border dynamics - Migration and internal displacement Social Science Methodology - Action research processes - Participatory methodologies - Reflections on methodology in social research Contemporary subjectivities - Construction of subjectivities - Culture and subjectivation processes - Identities - Affectivities - Corporealities Heritage - Heritage policies - Heritage management - Tangible heritage - Intangible heritage History, historiography and historical memory - Collective memories Science, Technology and Society Theory in Social Sciences URL de OAI-PMH: https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/reflexiones/oai About the publishing process and its publications, the Reflexiones Journal uses the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED License (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International)
Sistema Editorial y de Difusión de la Investigación (SIEDIN), Universidad de Costa Rica
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Gender and climate change: regulatory and research advances for climate justice
Introduction: This article presents a systematic literature review of regulations and research on climate change that incorporate a gender perspective. Objective: To highlight the main discussions on climate change from a gender perspective at the local and regional levels in Latin America, as well as the regulations related to the need for its inclusion in the study of the climate crisis. Methodology: A systematization of the main legal instruments relevant to the topic was carried out. Research from the last 10 years was also compiled, searching electronic resources subscribed to by the National University of Costa Rica. The review began with the keywords "climate change" and "gender." Subsequently, the documents that support this proposal were selected, prioritizing those that included one of the categories of interest. Results: Costa Rica has robust regulations regarding climate change and gender. However, their implementation faces limitations associated with scarce economic and human resources, political apathy, and low citizen engagement. The research agrees on the urgency of incorporating a gender perspective to achieve climate justice. It shows that climate change impacts are differentiated, with women being the most affected. Conclusions: A gender perspective allows us to identify how climate change differentially impacts people's lives, affecting historically vulnerable populations, including women, to a greater extent.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sileny Mena Gómez, María Luisa Preinfalk Fernández (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Meeting tourism: an approach from the perspective of its resident
Introduction: Meeting tourism has acquired a growing interest, due to its growth prospects and the benefits it provides to residents; so that the efforts made by the localities to position themselves as a host destination are notable. The city of Mar del Plata has extensive experience and track record in organizing meetings. However, it is necessary to investigate the knowledge that they have about this modality. Objetive: Analyze the perception of the residents of the town of Mar del Plata about meeting tourism, in order to deepen the design of successful tourism planning and management. Method and technique: Given the mixed nature of the research, a theoretical-methodological perspective based on the geography of perception is adopted. The perception of the residents of Mar del Plata about meeting tourism is analyzed. Observation, the application of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with key informants were used, as well as the use of primary and secondary information sources. Results: It is evident that the residents of Mar del Plata know the characteristics and potential of meeting tourism and, given their degree of commitment, interest and involvement with this modality, promote a positive assessment of the town. [Continue reading in the article]
Reflective Articles from Research Studies
Articulated and participatory tourism management
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Processes of tourist (in)visibility of the landscapes of the North oasis of Mendoza, Argentina
Introduction: Tourism and landscape are presented as closely related concepts. The landscape is understood as a dynamic social construction in permanent evolution. It is valued for different purposes, among which is, precisely, its tourist value. In tourism promotion, some landscapes are selected and, consequently, others are marginalized according to the interests pursued by the social actors involved. Objective: The objective of this research article is to know the landscapes of the North oasis of Mendoza that are currently valued touristically according to the vision of government actors, both at the local and provincial level. Methodology: The research follows a quali-quantitative scheme, combining data collection techniques such as interviews and desk review. For the analysis, cartography was carried out to visualizate the components and landscapes valued for tourism. Results: There is a focus on landscapes linked to: viticulture, urbanization, San Martin and mountain feat, to the detriment of others that present a lower value allocation (railway landscapes and those of the eastern part of the oasis) and are mostly marginalized. There are similarities, but also inconsistencies within the speeches of each of the referents interviewed in relation to the information provided on the websites. Conclusions: The tourism promotion of landscapes is influenced by various interests that generate that, sometimes, it stops innovating and / or applying other strategies that would enable the integration of other territories, communities and practices marginalized, and, therefore, unknown.
Copyright (c) 2023 Clarisa Suden https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Public policies and the Digital Gender Gap: analysis in Costa Rica (2020-2022)
Introduction: This research incorporates the intersectional perspective to make visible the diversity of gender identities, sexual orientation, age, class, geographic location; as key elements for overcoming the Digital Gender Divide in public policies on gender and Information and Communication Technologies. Objective: To analyze how gender and the Digital Gender Gap (GDG) are articulated in the design of public policies in order to know: what is the conception of women and their agency? Method: qualitative research that studies national policies and programs, applying categories of intersectional analysis articulated to gender. Results: Through the analysis, the conceptions and views on women reproduced in public policies were identified. In addition, of the routes proposed to reduce the DGD. There is an understanding that DGD is part of a complex system of inequalities based on gender inequality and the reproduction of gender roles and its impact on the barriers to access, use and appropriation of ICTs.
Copyright (c) 2023 Yanet Martinez Toledo, Sofía Mendoza Aguilar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The provisional (1944-1946) pesetas of the Mint of Costa Rica
Introduction: Coins were scarce in Costa Rica from colonial times until the mid-twentieth century. The Mint of Costa Rica provisionally produced 25 cent coins (pesetas) that, according to the Decree of 1944, were made of brass (Cu + Zn + Sn), but appear with different colors suggesting other mixtures of metals. Objective: To describe the characteristics of the coins, their elemental composition and the circumstances leading to their minting. Methods: The diameters, weights, engravings, and main defects of 60 peseta coins were determined. The composition of four coins, of different colors, was also analyzed by means of a Scanning Electron Microscope with X-ray dispersion (SEM-EDX). Results: From the sample, 48 coins weighed less than what was (3.410 g) specified in the Decree, two agree with it and 10 were higher. The majority had a diameter of 23.5 mm. The SEM-EDX analysis detected the presence of copper (68 to 96 %), zinc (12 to 23 %), tin (0.61 to 2.0 %) and traces of lead. However, the percentages of metals varied. Dye fractures, double impressions, and dye clashes are frequent. [Continue reading in the article]
Historia, historiografía y maemoria histórica
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Adolescence in psychosocial vulnerability and its link with digital technology
Introduction: The relationship with the digital particularizes other forms of construction of subjectivities, which require visualizing the transformations from the use of these objects. We will focus on understanding the relationship between adolescence and the digital, from the use of technology as a potential element of the social bond or depotentializer of the social bond. Objective: To propose a critical analysis of the relationship between the digital and adolescence in psychosocial vulnerability, based on the notion of the body, digital technologies, and new subjective constructions. Method: A documentary research was carried out in two phases. The first was aimed at identifying existing Ibero-American literature in the last decade (2011-2021) on the relationship between adolescence in psychosocial vulnerability and digital technology. The second phase consisted of the analytical-critical theorization of this link, as a process of relational and subjective transformation. Results: The documentary review allowed the identification of 82 binding investigations. Three analytical criteria were established for deconstructive critical reading with the transversal pharmakon axis: access-non-access to the digital, the circuit of affects and intergenerational difficulties in use. The result of the process led to an analytical corpus of 25 investigations. [Continue reading the article]
Review or Stage-of-the-study-question Articles
adolescencias, vulnerabilización psicosocial, tecnología digital, subjetividades
Copyright (c) 2023 Laura Chacón Echeverría, Helga Arroyo Araya https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Challenges for Latin American Social Psychology: contributions from feminist perspectives
Introduction: Latin America is facing a socio-political and economic context of great violence and crisis of care, reproduction of life, bonds and social fabric, with women being one of the most vulnerable groups. Therefore, it is necessary for social psychology, as a discipline permeated by neoliberalism and patriarchy, to turn its gaze and pay more attention, on the one hand, to the complex problems caused by political violence in our region and, on the other, to be critically examined to implement substantial transformations to its own research, academic education and social action or university extension processes. [Continue reading in the article]
Opinion Articles (not obtained from an investigation process)
Copyright (c) 2023 Brenda Barrantes Requeno https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Subjectivity and place: Young people from Guararí de Heredia in front of their community
Introduction: This article raises the relationship between a neighbourhood and subjectivities shared by young populations, that is, the framework of meanings, ideas, imaginaries, shared conditions in a place that can affect them individually or collectively. Objective: For this reason, this reflection aims to discuss whether the imaginaries of a site have implications for the subjectivity of those who occupy them. Method: It is a qualitative and exploratory research, at this first moment it consisted of group workshops that were carried out in October 2022 with young people who are part of various activities of the Heredia Civic Center for Peace. A recognition was found on the part of young people of neighborhood problems, such as drug use and negative news in which the neighborhood is frequently mentioned. However, those who participate do not intend to delve into these negative ideas of the neighborhood and, on the contrary, express situations of individual and collective development, due to the artistic and educational spaces provided by the Civic Center for Peace. [Continue reading in the article]
Copyright (c) 2024 Bryan Roberto Vargas Vargas, Maikol Picado Cortes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Processes of Extension Projects of Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica and Women Empowerment in Sarapiquí: Reflections about Community Development based on the Perceptions of Five Women
Introduction. Extension projects promoted at the university level serve as mechanisms for the betterment and growth of the rural communities. These projects might end up being longitudinal, where the constant mentoring and coaching is fundamental to continue helping the communities. This study examined the impact of extension projects that focused on rural tourism and entrepreneurship to a cooperative. Objective. The descriptive study seeks to portray the importance of university extension processes during 2015-2018 regarding community development, based on a qualitative case study of five women in Sarapiquí. Methodology. The methodology was based on a case study as a detailed description. The focus was descriptive (Baxter y Jack, 2008; Flyvbjerg, 2011; Lichtman, 2013). The case study focused on the experiences of five women, who were trained during 2015-2018 in rural tourism and entrepreneurship coordinated by the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. [Continue reading the article]
Community, Emporwerment, Entrepreneurship, Women, Tourism
Copyright (c) 2023 Patricia López-Estrada, Lady Fernández-Mora , Estefanía Pérez-Hidalgo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
On the notion of suffering in the Bribri indigenous population
Introduction: This article is part of the research of the School of Psychology of the University of Costa Rica «Memory, struggle, and resistances of the Bribri Indigenous people», which was developed in articulation with the Th Bribri Indigenous Territorial Government Association (ADITIBRI), the Indigenous Women of Talamanca Association (ACOMUITA), the Local Instance for the Integral Approach to Suicide (ILAIS-Talamanca). Objective: It seeks to situate the notions of suffering from the Bribri indigenous Cosmovision, to establish new dimensions of understanding, respectful of how reality is interpreted. This is relevant because it offers an epistemological framework from the Bribri indigenous knowledge, vital for approaches that detach themselves from the matrix of coloniality of power. Method: From a qualitative approach, the conception of suffering is constructed through the narratives of seven Bribri indigenous leaders. Discourse analysis was used as a method for the analysis of these texts. Results: The findings obtained point to conceptualizing suffering from four places of meaning: suffering as disconnection, suffering as an external cause of damage, suffering as a collective affectation, and suffering as a subjective experience and experience. Conclusions: There is a relationship between the idea of affectation of the power to act by an external cause, which provokes a wound in the indigenous being and in the spatiotemporal order that gives meaning to their existence as Bribris. Suffering cannot be located only in the individual affectation but must have a correspondence with the collective.
Copyright (c) 2023 Helga Arroyo Araya https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
When the silver coins of Costa Rica doubled their value: the decree of 1923
Introducción: El coleccionar monedas antiguas de Costa Rica ha aumentado en años recientes, y las monedas con resellos son de especial interés. En 1923, la Casa de Moneda de Costa Rica reselló, por el doble de su valor facial y con fecha 1923, las monedas nacionales con contenido de plata. Esto fue motivado principalmente por el aumento del precio del metal plata y la inflación. Objetivo: Analizar las circunstancias que motivaron el resello, sus características y las de monedas huésped, así como sus valores actuales en el mercado internacional. Métodos: Se consultó la literatura impresa y datos en páginas electrónicas. Se localizó y fotografió monedas reselladas y otras sin resellar. Resultados: El resello obedeció al Decreto n.º 93 del 10 de julio de 1923 y fue aplicado a monedas emitidas entre 1850 y 1918, para un total de 1 472 242,00 colones equivalente al duplo de su valor facial original. No hay certeza sobre la cantidad resellada y se estimó que 425 981 lo fueron por UN COLON y 1 161 654 por 50 CENTIMOS. Existen resellos falsos, así como otros aplicados en las caras opuestas a las indicadas en el decreto. Algunas monedas reselladas, por ejemplo, las del árbol de encina (1850-1875), alcanzan precios altos en subastas internacionales. Errores y variedades se encuentran frecuentemente en las monedas huésped. Monedas originales defectuosas fueron fundidas y el metal utilizado en las nuevas de 25 céntimos con fecha 1924. [Continúa leyendo en el artículo]
Copyright (c) 2026 Sergio Aguilar, José A. Vargas Zamora, Ronald Vílchez Rodríguez, Josué I. Sánchez Chaves (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Sexual harassment at the University of Costa Rica: an intersectional reading
Introduction: Objective: Method: Conclusions:
Copyright (c) 2023 Joybeth Francinie Brown Donaldson, Shashira Douglas Clayton https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Perceptions and evaluations of the implementation of the therapeutic community model in youth orientation centers in Costa Rica
Introduction: It starts from critical criminology and criminal legal sociology as epistemic positions to understand how the creation, implementation, and subsequent weakening of the therapeutic community model in youth facilities in Costa Rica. Objective: Specifically, some potentialities and limitations of the implementation of the therapeutic community model and psychological practice are analyzed in accordance with the Organic Law of the Jurisdiction of Minors (LOJTM) and the Juvenile Criminal Justice Law (LJPJ). Method: The qualitative methodological perspective feeds this research and the analysis material is based on semi-structured interviews with key informants (psychology professionals) and documentary review. Results: From the analysis it emerges that the therapeutic community model was implemented in a differentiated way in youth centers. Its implementation was weakened due to social, political and economic changes that began in the eighties and in the following years, which had a negative impact on the work carried out with juvenile offenders. In addition, when contrasting the psychological work within the framework of the LOJTM and the LJPJ, the complex relationship that has prevailed between the legal and psychosocial criteria in these venues is evident. [Continue reading in the article]
Copyright (c) 2023 María José Masís Méndez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Social Work Experiences in the supervision of community practices
Abstract Introduction: This article systematizes the teaching experience in supervising the course OT1078, Theory and Practice of Social Work IV, within the Social Work Degree program at the University of Costa Rica. The course is offered at both the Western Campus and the Grecia University Campus. Objetive: The main objective of this article is to systematize the teaching experience of supervising community practice during the second semester of 2024. This process contributes to the theoretical-methodological and human development of Social Work from the perspective of the Promotional Socio-Educational Model. Method: The socio-educational promotional model and the group work method were used in the communities, specifically at the Grecia University Campus. Results: Among the results obtained, the main successes of the promotional socio-educational model are identified, specifically with the older adult and minor populations. All participants (internship students, faculty, and target population) identify it as a form of organization, integration, cooperation, awareness-raising, and mobilization of individual, group, and institutional resources that foster active participation in changing the problematic situations identified by the local residents. Conclusions: This study concludes that a humanizing praxis is fundamental. Both teachers and students must continuously update their theoretical, methodological, and technical-operational skills while also fostering the development of soft skills for professional practice. Intellectual growth must be encouraged alongside the complex world of emotions, attitudes, and feelings that shape human experiences.
Did Justice Fail? Critical Analysis of Two Cases of Sexual Violence in Costa Rica from the Voices of Women Survivors (2021–2022)
Introduction: The context of this research focuses on discrimination against women who report sexual violence in Costa Rica, which stems from the formation of gender stereotypes and prejudices. Its influence is particularly negative on the exercise of human rights and the administration of justice. Objective: To understand the perceptions and experiences of two adult women who reported sexual violence to the judiciary regarding the judicial process they faced and their trust in thein the Costa Rican justice system. Method and technique: A gender perspective was used as a key analytical tool to identify the directly affected population, the majority of whom are women. Regarding data collection techniques, two interviews were conducted with Melany Mora Murillo and Elena Aguilar Castillo, both of whom reported sexual violence. Results: The analysis revealed that the women complainants were heavily stigmatized for not conforming to the stereotype of the "ideal victim." This stigmatization led to their experiences being minimized or dismissed within the judicial process, which limited their effective participation and contributed to their exclusion. As a result, the voices of Melany Mora Murillo and Elena Aguilar Castillo were rendered invisible. Conclusions: The women who filed complaints shared experiences marked by stigmatization and distrust of the judicial system. They frequently expressed feeling ignored and undervalued during the judicial process. Likewise, the judicial process had a significant impact on the complainants' mental health.
Copyright (c) 2025 Catalina Fernández Fernández (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Gender inequalities in the media in Rafaela (Argentina). A study on career paths and access to work (2022-2024)
Introduction: Based on research that combines a gender perspective with media studies, this article reconstructs the perceptions and experiences of women journalists working in the media sector in the city of Rafaela, placing these reflections within a characterization of the ecosystem of traditional and new digital media in the Castellanos department active during the years 2022-2024 and their organizational structures. Objective: To develop an analytical framework to understand how gender inequality manifests itself in work experiences in the city of Rafaela, Santa Fe province, Argentina. Methodology: The strategy used is based on a media survey of the Castellanos department in the province of Santa Fe, using a questionnaire to characterize the information and communication sector in that territory and, in particular, to situate the media sector in the city of Rafaela. It is complemented by in-depth interviews with women who work in this field in that city. Results: Particularities related to gender inequalities observed in the media of the aforementioned city are identified, highlighting problematic issues such as work overload, lack of recognition, and situations of violence faced by women working in the information and communication sector. [Continue reading in the article]
Dossier Special “Feminisms, Gender and Communication: Symbolic Disputes, Resistance and Transformations in Latin America.”
Copyright (c) 2025 Victoria Batiston, Denise Zenklusen (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Immoral desires: media violence in news about lesbophobia in private spaces for public use
Introduction: This article focuses on the media violence faced by lesbian women in the Brazilian journalistic context. For this purpose, a Brazilian news portal with great national impact, G1, was selected, and from it, the journalistic representations of three cases of lesbophobic violence were studied. Main objective: To analyze the construction of news about lesbophobia in order to identify approaches, languages ​​and narrative strategies of the media. Method and technique: Qualitative research based on three news articles from the G1 Portal about cases of lesbophobia that occurred in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The material was analyzed using an adaptation of the methodological protocol for Journalistic Coverage Analysis. Results: The erasure of lesbianism was observed (which occurs not only in the narratives themselves, but also in the lack of coverage of the cases); the sensationalization of the violence and pain of the victims; the lack of contextualization of the systemic nature of lesbophobia; the restricted use of sources and the reinforcement of the «immoral» attribution to lesbianism and its affections. Conclusions: Understanding that the media coverage of the cases analyzed exposed the victims to media violence, it is concluded that, instead of informing and contributing to educating about lesbianities, G1 journalism has acted to produce and reinforce negative social imaginaries regarding lesbianism – such as those related to immorality.
Copyright (c) 2026 Maria Clara Soares Rodrigues, Lívia Kelly Labanca Ferreira , Steyce Dayane Lopes, Kellen do Carmo Xavier (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Value Chain Approach in the Sustainable Tourism Sector: Perspectives from the Systematic Review of Scientific Literature
Introduction: Over the last decade, the value chain approach has played an increasingly significant role in sustainable tourism studies due to its capacity to offer a comprehensive overview of how products are generated, distributed, consumed, and even recycled throughout its links. Objective: This article presents a systematic review of scientific literature published between 2003 and 2024 to analyze the conceptual evolution, empirical applications, and knowledge gaps regarding the value chain approach in sustainable tourism, with the aim of proposing perspectives for the formulation of public policies and management strategies. Method: The research relies on the protocol established by Tranfield et al. (2003), which enables the structuring of evidence in a rigorous and replicable manner. The study exclusively considered 25 indexed and peer-reviewed studies, prioritizing those published in high-impact journals (Q1 and Q2) according to the Scimago Journal Rank (SJR). Results: Findings reveal an evolution of the value chain concept beyond its original focus on economic efficiency toward models that integrate elements such as collaborative governance, digitalization, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Shared value, equal participation of actors, and a focus on territorial equity are identified as key factors. [Continue reading in the article]
Copyright (c) 2026 Marco Vinicio Soto Calderón (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Demasculinized parents? Practices and meanings of trans paternities in Costa Rica
Introduction:In the framework of a patriarchal society such as the Costa Rican one, the understanding of the paternity link with the conceptions of hegemonic masculinity (HM) and the construction of alternative models of masculine identity are central elements. Main objective: to explore the practices and meanings of parenthood exercised by trans men in Costa Rica, for reflection on the experiences of men who, through the exercise of parenthood, challenge traditional masculinity. Method and technique: a case study was developed, based on the semi-structured interview technique and a content analysis was executed, to which an axial coding is applied. The case is relevant because it allows to make visible a concrete exercise of trans paternity, in turn, to problematize the notion of trans paternity predominant in the literature which prioritizes the biogenetic issue, which constitutes a historical element of discrimination of adoptive parentage (formal and/or, in fact) in force. The above allows us to approach the phenomenon of trans parenthood in Costa Rica, considering its complexity. [Continue reading in the article]
Copyright (c) 2026 Lhiam Vega Umaña (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Older people in Costa Rica: living conditions, gender and human rights
Introduction: Costa Rica is facing the phenomenon of demographic aging, which is leading to economic, social, and political changes, alongside challenges in health care, pensions, and caregiving, among others. Likewise, as a result of gender inequalities experienced and accumulated throughout the life course, old age is experienced differently depending on whether one is a woman or a man, which is why, when conducting studies on older persons, it is essential to disaggregate by sex the data produced about this population. In this way, information is available to address the specific needs of older people. Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the living conditions of women and men aged 65 and over in Costa Rica, based on data on sociodemographic characteristics from the National Household Survey (ENAHO 2024). Method and Technique: This research employs data from the ENAHO 2024 survey, focusing on variables such as household headship, insurance status, poverty, and employment status, among others. Results: The research demonstrated significant gender-based differences among older adults in their access to employment, education, and health rights and in the use of Information and Communication Technologies, as well as inequalities in caregiving work, labor market participation, household maintenance, access to pensions, and unequal participation in household heads. [Continue reading in the article]
Copyright (c) 2026 Mag. Rebeca Espinoza Herrera, Fernando José Méndez-Casteolloanos (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Sexist advertising in Costa Rica: a longitudinal study in radio and television
Introduction and Objective: This study examined the evolution of sexism in radio and television advertising discourse within the Costa Rican context, conceptualizing advertising as a mechanism of informal education and gender socialization, and assessing the detrimental impact of sexist advertising narratives on gender equality and women's rights enjoyment. Methodology: A quantitative and longitudinal study was conducted. The 40 most frequently aired radio and television advertisements were extracted in equal proportions from equivalent periods in 2015 and 2021, and five experts evaluated their sexism levels using a Likert scale. The final sample comprised 200 expert judgment assessments. Results: Statistical analysis reveals the persistence over time of undesirable levels of sexism in advertising, although with a significant decrease in stereotypes regarding women's roles in the household and family. Additionally, a higher level of sexism was registered in television advertising. Conclusions: The findings indicate that it is necessary to expand research along these lines and strengthen actions for advertising co-regulation with a gender and intersectional perspective.
Copyright (c) 2025 Camila Ordóñez Laclé (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Cahuita National Park: tensions, contributions and challenges for sustainable local development
Introduction: Costa Rica has consolidated a comprehensive conservation system, within which Cahuita National Park (CNP) is a special case, bringing together marine and terrestrial ecosystems managed through a model of shared governance between the state and the community. Although it generates economic and environmental benefits, there is still a divergence with the socioeconomic conditions of the district, highlighting an analytical gap in how these benefits are linked to local development. Objective: This article aims to identify the socioeconomic and environmental benefits generated by CNP and their relationship with socioeconomic development, analyzing strategies that benefit the community and the natural environment. Method and techniques: The study adopts a mixed approach that integrates documentary review, analysis of institutional information, and even semi-structured interviews with local actors. The data were articulated through triangulation to contrast environmental, economic, and governance dimensions associated with the park. Results: The analysis shows that the CNP contributes to ecosystem conservation and even generates employment and economic activity in the tourism sector. However, these benefits are not proportionally reflected in the district's conditions, particularly in terms of job opportunities, training, infrastructure, and local capacities to sustainably leverage the park's contributions. Conclusions: The findings show that the challenging relationship between conservation and local development depends on institutional, socioeconomic, and territorial factors that influence the distribution of benefits. The study provides evidence for strengthening shared governance and community capacities that impact the district's development.
Copyright (c) 2026 Luis Castro Hernandez, Fiorella Salas Pinel (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Ceramic plates and culinary practices of ancient Guanacaste: a technical and functional approach
Introduction: The document proposes, for northwestern Costa Rica, an approach to the relationship between ceramic technology and culinary practices, based on the analysis of the manufacture, use, and consumption of ceramic plates associated with the Bagaces (300–800 CE) and Sapoá (800–1350 CE) archaeological periods. Objective: To explore the production and use of ceramic plates according to the socioeconomic practices of food preparation and serving in ancient Guanacaste. Methodology: A sample of 95 plates was analyzed for technological and functional aspects, complemented by digital documentation and experimental tests on replicas. Results: Technological changes were identified in surface treatments and decorative techniques of ceramic plates from the country’s northwest, evolving from monochrome plates with or without incisions during the Bagaces period (300–800 CE) to plates painted in trichrome or polychrome styles during the Sapoá period (800–1350 CE). These changes responded to culinary needs, such as serving and/or cooking solid foods by roasting. Hearths and stoves are proposed as possible cooking spaces for these plates. Conclusion: The technological and functional characterization of ceramic plates from ancient Guanacaste allowed for a deeper understanding of how and where they might have been used in consumption spaces. This study serves as a starting point for research lines that complement these findings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Javier Fallas Fallas (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
JOSE MARTI: EL ENIGMA, LA HISTORIA Y EL V CENTENARIO
Copyright (c) 2014 Revista Reflexiones https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
ENCUENTRO ENTRE LA GEOLOGÍA Y LA HISTORIA COLONIAL
REFLEXIONES INCONCLUSAS SOBRE LA UNIVERSIDAD
VISIONES DEL INDÍGENA E IDENTIDAD LATINOAMERICANA
¿POR QUÉ ABOLIR LA LEY DEL DÍA DE LA RAZA?
Drunkenness as a crime: Social control and criminalization of liquor in Costa Rica (1903-1925)
Introduction: This article examines the legislation that existed in the country during the early years of the twentieth century to criminalize drunkenness, as well as in the links between political and legal provisions with the registration of cases punished for drunkenness. The research is framed in the field of social history, particularly in the study of criminality. Objective: To analyze state policies and security regulations to determine their influence on the registration of cases of drunkenness and liquor law infractions in Costa Rica during 1903-1925. Method and technique: The methodological approach was of a mixed nature. First, the content of the current legal documentation on drunkenness was analyzed. Then, this information was contrasted with empirical data from the statistical yearbooks of INEC and the institutional reports of the Ministry of Government and Police to determine the effectiveness and application of the regulations on the regulation of drunkenness. Results: The data on cases punished for drunkenness showed a significant increase after the creation of the liquor law and, mainly, after the issuance of an updated version of this regulation during the year 1907. Conclusions: The registration of cases punished for drunkenness obeyed to the political interests of the authorities to demonstrate that the new regulations implemented were being efficient.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anderson Granados Trejos (Autor/a) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0