Margarida Berta (*)

José H. Ornelas (**)

Susana G. Maria (***)

O presente estudo teve como objectivo contribuir para o desenvolvimento dos conhecimentos sobre os constrangimentos provocados pelo medo da violação na vida das mulheres, assim como dar a conhecer a sua realidade, e a forma como elas lidam com esse medo, e onde pensam que se encontra a origem desse medo. Os constrangimentos provocados pelo medo de violação têm toda a legitimidade de existir e devem ser encarados, em si mesmos, como um fenómeno e um problema social.

O estudo teve como participantes, 18 estudantes universitárias do Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, com idades compreendidas entre os 19 e os 25 anos. Os dados foram recolhidos através da formação de Grupos de Debate (Focus Groups), no contexto de Investigação Participada Feminista.

A análise dos resultados recolhidos na investigação, conduz-nos à conclusão que o crime de violação limita a liberdade das mulheres em geral, assim como a sua qualidade de vida, sendo necessária uma mudança no sentido de uma estrutura social liberta do crime de violação.

Palavras-chave: Mulheres, violação, medo, estratégias, constrangimentos.

ABSTRACT

This paper main goal is to explore more about women lives constraints resulting from fear of rape, to know its reality as well as how women deal with it, and where do they think this fear come from. The existence of these constraints, due to fear of rape, are legitimate and should be faced as both a social phenomenon and problem itself.

Eighteen college students from Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, with 19 to 25 years old, participate in our research. Data was gathered through Focus Groups formation, in a Feminist Participatory Research context.

The results analysis leads the authors to assume that crime of rape constrain women freedom, as well as their lives quality and well being, and a change to a social structure free from this crime is necessary.

Key words: Women, rape, fear, strategies, constraints.

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(*) Licenciada em Psicologia pelo ISPA. E-mail: mberta@netcabo.pt

(**) Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisboa. E-mail: jornelas@ispa.pt

(***) Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisboa. E-mail: smaria@ispa.pt