University research gives voice to immigrant women victims of gender violence

Giving a voice to the victims of gender violence to prevent future cases and to be able to treat them in a personalized way. This is one of the objectives of the doctoral thesis speech, narratives and identity in contexts of gender violence. Analysis and lines of intervention in Latin American women in Navarra, carried out by Cristina Bastidas, researcher at the Institute for Culture and Society of the University of Navarra. The research, carried out between 2020 and 2024, consisted of analyzing the narratives of immigrant women who have been victims of gender violence in order to identify with greater precision possible risk factors, causes and consequences and, finally, to conclude with recommendations to help prevent or mitigate this scourge. This doctoral thesis was made possible thanks to funding from the Caja Navarra Foundation.

Bastidas interviewed 30 women who had suffered or were suffering from this status and her work has made it possible to accompany the victims. "This thesis seeks to give a voice to those who have no voice and, based on the narratives, to analyze the findings," she explains.

According to data compiled by the Government Delegation against Gender Violence, between 2020 and 2023, complaints of gender violence in Navarra grew by 35%. In 2024, 70% of the foreign complainants were Latin American. According to the researcher, despite the magnitude of the problem, it is a reality that remains on the margins: "These data show the need to reformulate public policies and preventive approaches, integrating inclusive strategies that address the specific realities of immigrant women and the social factors that increase their vulnerability".

The main goal of the research is to understand how these women construct their self-concept and identity through their stories and the meaning they give to their experiences. In order to understand this phenomenon in depth, Bastidas chose to conduct narrative interviews that allowed us to learn about the experiences and perspectives of the victims. The study focused on interviews with Latin American women living in Navarra who have been trapped in a cycle of violence. To carry out the research, Bastidas had the support of the association Pro-extranjeros en Navarra (APROENA), which supported the project and facilitated the initial contact with Latin American immigrant women. "These spaces for dialogue were especially important, considering the sensitivity of sharing intimate aspects of their staff s lives and agreeing to be recorded. Thanks to this partnership, we were able to hold meetings with at least 30 women, oriented in a natural and progressive way towards the central topic of the research", the researcher points out.

For Bastidas, change begins by "identifying, naming and understanding violence in its essence, without politicizing the problem": "The political approach to gender violence should not divert attention from effective solutions and real responses to address this problem, such as psychological support and spaces for accompaniment. It is not just a matter of offering financial aid". In this sense, she points out that policies should facilitate reflection and understanding of this reality through participatory approaches such as narrative interviews. The stories collected make human complexity visible and offer transformative perspectives on inequalities and violence. They also help women identify patterns of abuse and take an active role in change, facilitating their empowerment and emotional recovery, with the crucial support of institutional resources.