Problem Representations of Femicide/Feminicide Legislation in Latin America

Abstract

Femicide/feminicide has become an increasing social concern for local communities, international organizations, and national governments. In 2007, Latin American countries began enacting legislation to prevent and punish femicide/feminicide; however, relatively few researchers have assessed the scope and depth of this legislation. Using Carol Bacchi’s (2009) “what’s the problem represented to be” approach, this study analyzes femicide/feminicide across Latin American countries. The goal of this approach is to assess concepts that are taken for granted within policies and uncover what has been silenced through problem representations. Results provide considerations for future legislative development in Latin America and abroad.

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Except where otherwise noted, content in this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Published: 2020-05-25
Pages:1 to 19
Section:Articles
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How to Cite
Carrigan, M. and Dawson, M. (2020) “Problem Representations of Femicide/Feminicide Legislation in Latin America”, International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy, 9(2), pp. 1-19. doi: 10.5204/ijcjsd.v9i2.1354.

Author Biographies

University of Guelph
 Canada

Michelle Carrigan holds a MA in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy from the University of Guelph and is a JD Candidate at the University of Ottawa. Carrigan is also a researcher at the Centre for the Study of Social and Legal Responses to Violence (CSSLRV) at the University of Guelph.

University of Guelph
 Canada

Myrna Dawson is a Professor and Director, Centre for the Study of Social and Legal Responses to Violence, University of Guelph. Her research focuses on trends/patterns in violence with emphasis on violence against women and femicide. She is also Director of the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability.