Gender and sexual violence against children: a debate about power relations

Abstract

This article seeks to outline a theoretical debate based on the dialogue between gender production and sexual violence against children and adolescents. Drawing on a historical and theoretical perspective about gender studies, it is assumed that the process of socialization and construction of the subjects’ identities is marked by practices and discourses that continuously affect bodies since their gestational period. Hegemonic models of masculinity and femininity cross the subjects' experiences producing marks, relations of power, possibilities and prohibitions. Thereby gender is understood as a category of analysis that produces asymmetric power relations that - among other factors - contribute to the reproduction of sexual violence against children and adolescents. This is a complex phenomenon considered a public health problem that articulates itself with micro and macro-social issues. In this perspective elements such as machismo, patriarchy, adult-centeredness combined with ethnic-racial, socioeconomic and gender inequalities are shown as some of the factors that promote sexual violence against children and adolescents and are discussed throughout this article. The prevention and confrontation of sexual violence is also reflected in the rupture of silencing and marginalizing practices and inequalities of power among the subjects, as well as the implementation of public policies and the creation of strategies that question gender norms.