Cuidados y violencia patrimonial: un análisis contextual de la vulnerabilidad de las mujeres cuidadoras en América Latina

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between economic violence against women and the unequal distribution of care tasks in the household within the Latin American context. It addresses traditional family structures and gender roles and how these perpetuate the cycle of vulnerability and dependence. This violence, also manifested as financial and patrimonial abuse, is closely linked to the overload of unpaid care responsibilities that primarily fall on women, limiting their opportunities for economic independence and personal development. Three main subordinating agents are identified: the romantic partner, family members, and the State, which exert control through various mechanisms, including financial manipulation and denial of patrimonial rights. The intergenerational transmission of patterns of violence and traditional gender roles is highlighted as significant factors in the perpetuation of these dynamics. The research underscores the intersectionality between economic violence, care responsibilities, and social vulnerability. It concludes that addressing economic violence against women caregivers requires a comprehensive approach that challenges the social, economic, and cultural structures that sustain these inequalities while emphasizing the importance of public policies and social changes to break this cycle of vulnerability and promote gender equality in the region.