Violencia machista hacia la mujer adulta mayor. Una historia de vida en el barrio urbano “El paraíso” de la ciudad de Cuenca-Ecuador

Abstract

The experiences of older women have historically been overlooked in studies on gender- based violence. This research analyzed the gender-based violence experienced by an older woman from the urban neighborhood of El Paraíso in the city of Cuenca, with the aim of understanding how this violence manifested itself throughout her life and how it was sustained by sociocultural, economic, and family factors. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach, through an ethnographic design focused on life history. Through in-depth interviews, the participant's experiences from childhood to old age were reconstructed, which made it possible to identify the presence of psychological and symbolic violence, normalized in the family and social sphere, framed by gender mandates, imposed roles, and unequal power relations. The results showed that economic dependence, the sexual division of labor, and male authority influenced the persistence of violence throughout her life. Likewise, the role of support networks in old age was highlighted, especially the companionship between women, as spaces for emotional support and reframing of lived experiences.