Intersections between migration, gender and violence A study of the Peruvian and Bolivian population in Catamarca Capital - Year 2022

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between migration, gender, and violence among the Peruvian and Bolivian population residing in the city of Catamarca, Argentina, using an intersectional approach that considers structural, cultural, and direct dimensions of violence. It’s part of a broader doctoral research project focused on the experiences and perceptions of violence in the destination country during 2022. The methodology is quantitative, with a descriptive-exploratory design. The research technique used was a structured survey, in person, aministered to a purposive sample of 102 migrants (41 of Peruvian origin and 61 of Bolivian origin), of both sexes, aged between 16 and 60 years. Sociodemographic, family, and employment variables, as well as experiences of violence, are analyzed, incorporating a gender perspective as a cross-cutting analytical category. The results show no significant differences in the incidence of violence based on national origin, with differences based on sex and age, and a higher proportion of reported violent incidents by men and by young and middle-aged individuals. Likewise, greater exposure to violence is observed among employed migrants, highlighting the role of precarious working conditions. From a gender perspective, the potential underreporting of violence against migrant women is problematic, linked to structural, cultural, and institutional barriers. It is concluded that violence in migratory contexts stems from an intersectional configuration of inequalities that transcends national origin and is embedded in broader processes of precarity, social exclusion, and the erosion of rights.