Almost four decades have passed since the term femicide was coined in 1976. This new word had a political purpose, in that it intended to produce changes in the social order which tolerated the violent death of women. Since that time, the word has generated a theoretical concept that encompasses the killing of a woman as a specific social phenomenon. Femicide is an effort in sociological imagination that has been successful in transforming conventional perception, public awareness, scientific research and policy making. This article undertakes to review how femicide has evolved in social research. It analyses the most important theories explaining femicide: the feminist, sociological, criminological, human rights and decolonial research approaches and their theoretical significance. It discusses Mexico as a case study, exemplifying how a new English term was then translated into another language and applied in a very specific socio-political context, so that it became instrumental in changing reality and improving the lives of women. Finally, the article proposes a framework where femicide is understood as a social phenomenon that demands an interdisciplinary approach. The authors recommend a systemic, multifaceted model in order to improve both scientific analysis and prevention.

This article aims to identify different personal characteristics in treatment-responsive and treatment-resistant perpetrators of intimate partner violence who completed a batterer intervention program (BIP). The sample consists of 105 perpetrators of intimate partner violence who were court-mandated to a community-based cognitive behavioral program. Perpetrators were classified by professionals as resistant or responsive to treatment based on the stage of change they reached upon completion of the program. The results show that before starting the intervention program, treatment-resistant perpetrators scored higher than treatment-responsive perpetrators in external responsibility attributions and attitudes toward violence in intimate relationships. No differences were found in personality disorders or psychological symptoms between the groups. However, longer program participation correlates with increasing differences between the two groups. The results suggest that targeting the personal characteristics which differentiate treatment-responsive perpetrators from treatment-resistant ones may help to increase the efficacy of BIPs.

ResumenLa situación de la violencia dentro de la pareja en Latinoamérica es un problema complejo que provoca graves consecuencias para miles de mujeres. En este estudio se analizan los factores y dinámicas involucradas en este tipo de violencia en un contexto de pequeñas comunidades rurales. Para ello, a partir de un marco ecológico de análisis se ha desarrollado un estudio cualitativo en comunidades rurales de la provincia de Imbabura, en Ecuador. Se realizaron 7 grupos focales en los que participaron un total de 63 personas. Los resultados muestran: a)la importancia del entorno comunitario y de las interacciones de víctima y agresor con la familia, vecindario y agentes de intervención; b)la influencia de la estructura del territorio y la actuación del Estado en el manejo de las situaciones de violencia dentro de la pareja, y c)los efectos que la presión ejercida por los distintos miembros de la comunidad pueden tener para la víctima y sus opciones de denunciar la situación. Finalmente, se apunta la posibilidad de que los factores identificados puedan ser elementos explicativos y esclarecedores de las dinámicas de violencia en contextos similares al caso estudiado.AbstractThe situation of intimate partner violence in Latin America is a complex problem that has serious consequences for thousands of women. In this study the factors and dynamics involved in such violence in a context of small rural communities are analyzed. To do this from an ecological framework of analysis, we have developed a qualitative study in rural communities of the province of Imbabura, in Ecuador. Seven focus groups involving a total of 63 people were held. The results show: (i)the importance of community environment and interactions of victim and perpetrator to the family, neighborhood and police intervention; (ii)the way that the territory structure and state action affect the handling of situations of intimate partner violence, and (iii)the effects of the pressure exerted by the various members of the community can have on the victim and their ability to report the situation. Finally, the possibility that the identified factors can be explanatory and illuminating elements of the dynamics of violence in similar contexts to the case study is targeted

This paper deals with the influence of the therapeutic context in batterer intervention programs. We conducted 2 complementary studies: a descriptive analysis (Study 1) and a qualitative study (Study 2) analyzing the aspects that may help to improve the operation and effectiveness of treatment in a group of men (N = 27) who participated in a program for convicted perpetrators of intimate partner violence. The results show a statistically significant relationship between the therapeutic alliance and the assessment of the usefulness of the program attended by offenders (r = .69, p < .01), and between the therapeutic alliance and the assessment of the usefulness of the program content (r = .43, p < .05). Furthermore, the results of the qualitative analysis show that aspects of the therapeutic context may play an important role for the adhesion of offenders to treatment, increasing their motivation and improving results. It is proposed that future research should provide more in-depth analysis of the elements related to the context of the intervention and therapists’ skills as facilitators of change.

Femicidio y feminicidio: Un análisis de las aportaciones en clave iberoamericana