Atribuciones y derechos socio-culturales de género en familias de Caldas.

Abstract

This research makes wider the new perspective of social and cultural attri bution and rights of gender. This study was carried out in two stages: firstly, a qualitative exploration in which 19 couples from the department of Caldas (a region in Colombia) that allowed to establish the categories of rights, discourse and mechanisms for sustenance. The second stage consisted of structured inter views to 120 families. They determined the strata distribution.

Men, in all strata, possess more rights taken into account money, food, rest, bealth, personal services, freedom to move and act, sexual experiences pre- and post marriage, freedom to express and decision taking. Women have very few rights: economical support, protection and feeling expressions. Instead, they experiment misrights.

The testimonies showed deep-rooted male chauvinism beliefs, with signifi cant differences among strata. Men and women agree with the nature and distribution of their unequal rights which are maintained through strategies based upon beliefs about gender "natural" features. These support and reinforce practices such as to excuse others and oneself, simulate ignorance, and assume some situations as "natural". Power tactics are also used.