Gender violence in marriage. Historical judicial records to understand the power relations between the Aymara people of the Chilean highlands.

Abstract

Abstract

Research results are presented looking to contribute to a greater understanding of gender relations, within marriage, among the Aymara people of the northern highlands of Chile, through the unveiling of practices of marital violence in these communities and reported into the different local Courts that operated in the Andean sectors, during the period of implementation and functioning of the Chilean territorial administration system.

Methodologically, ethnohistorical material and judicial documentation have been used to learn about marital conflicts through cases handled by District Judges, in their role as mediators and adjudicators. Also, ethnographic information obtained during field work carried out in this studied area has been incorporated.

We believe that addressing specifically the physical violence of men against their wives can provide interesting elements to understand the power relations on the couples in Aymara society and culture, since domestic violence is related to the role of women on the marriage and with the conception of masculine and feminine.