Motivations for breaking the cycle of violence among women hosted in the Lilac Room of the Forensic Medical Institute in downtown Rio de Janeiro in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

What motivations lead a woman in a situation of physical violence to file a report at a police station, breaking the cycle of violence in which, she was trapped? The phenomenon of violence against women is complex, involving historical, religious, cultural, social, political and economic crossings that influence intimate and social relationships. Aiming to answer the problem question, a qualitative research was carried out interviewing fifteen adult women, physically attacked, hosted by the Projeto Sala Lilás IML Centro in Rio de Janeiro. The research took place in June 2022, still during the pandemic period, when home confinement led to an increase in domestic violence. The research strategy consisted of outlining a sociodemographic profile of the assaulted women and the contexts of the aggression from which to analyze the statements collected after the woman was treated in Sala Lilás. We conclude that the assaulted woman's motivation to file a police report is not a reaction to the last episode of violence suffered, but as an outcome of experiences throughout her life, which end up impacting her decision-making process.