Analyzing gender-based violence in Mexico through the Power Cube

• In Event: Democratic Development for Securing Livelihoods, Peace, Gender Equality, and the Protection of Migrants

Abstract

In general, Latin America has some of the strongest regulatory frameworks for addressing gender-based violence. Nevertheless, the rates of GBV remain high and disproportionately higher compared to GBV against men. The hypothesis of this essay is that feminicide is only the tip of the iceberg of a reality much more complex that perpetuates the unequal relations of power between women and men. In order to better understand the dynamic of gender power relations in Latin America, the paper uses as a tool of analysis the power cube, and as case study, Mexico. The Power Cube is a model of power that serves to analyze the different forms, levels, and spaces of power that determine gender relations. The dimension of height corresponds to levels of power and includes global, national, local, and household. The dimension of width refers to the spaces in which men and women can exert power, namely closed, invited, and claimed spaces. Finally the dimension of depth represents the forms of power, invisible, hidden, and visible. Three elements identified as essential to development, property rights, collective action, and stakeholder participation are crosscutting issues of the analysis.

Author

• Ana Isabel Rodriguez Iglesias, Complutense de Madrid