Violence Against Women and Girls in transnational perspective in Rio de Janeiro and London
This interdisciplinary project was part of the ESRC UK-Brazil Collaborative Research Call under the auspices of the Newton Fund and the Urban Transformations programme (grant number:ES/N013247/1) (with Paul Heritage, QMUL).
The research was undertaken in partnership with the Palace Projects, Latin American Women's Rights Services, CASA Festival in London and with Redes da Mare and the Escola de Serviço Social, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
Aims
- To examine localised and transnational dynamics of violence against women and girls in Brazil and the UK, focusing on women and girls living in a favela community in Rio de Janeiro and on Brazilian migrants in London.
- To identify the nature, causes and consequences of violence against women and explores the linkages between cities of the Global South and Global North.
Methods
London: the research entailed a survey (with 175 Brazilian women), in-depth interviews (with 25 Brazilian women) and focus group research (five groups with women and one group with men), as well with 12 service providers. Geographically, the research was city-wide.
Rio de Janeiro: the research was conducted in Complexo da Maré, a low-income community in the north of the city, comprising nearly 4 km2 and including 16 slums. The research entailed a survey with 801 women, testimonial interviews with a further 20 women and seven focus groups (with 59 people in total), as well as 14 interviews with service providers.
Summary of Findings
London:
- 4/5 of women had experienced gender-based violence in their lifetime (82%)
- Nearly half (48%) of the women had experienced some form of gender-based violence in the UK
- Emotional/psychological violence was the most common type of violence experienced in London (48%), followed by physical violence (38%), and with 14% experiencing sexual violence
- However, 56% of women never reported an episode of violence in London, mainly because they thought nothing would be done about it, lack of information, and/or shame and fear of deportation due to insecure immigration status.
Rio de Janeiro:
- Awareness of violence against women and girls was more limited than in London
- Although the vast majority of those surveyed (76%) stated that violence against women and girls occurs in Maré, only 28% openly stated that they had suffered it. However, when asked about reporting such violence, 38% stated they had experienced it.
- Physical violence emerged as the most important (by 51% of women), followed by psychological/emotional violence (42%) and sexual abuse (7%).
- Intimate partners committed a third of gender-based violence with only 15% perpetrated by strangers; the remainder were by work colleagues and bosses and friends and family.
Impact
The research conducted in Rio de Janeiro was used to inform an audio-visual installation called SCAR by renowned Brazilian theatre maker, Bia Lessa. The theatre play, Efêmera by Gäel le Cornec was also written based on the women’s own words, as well as a film based on the play, photographs and an awareness-raising film.
Reports
- McIlwaine and Evans (2018) We Can't Fight in the Dark: Violence Against Women and Girls among Brazilians in London (long version) - (pdf) 1891 Kb
- McIlwaine and Evans (2018) We Can't Fight in the Dark: Violence Against Women and Girls among Brazilians in London (short version) - (pdf) 995 Kb
- McIlwaine and Evans (2018) 'Não se pode lutar no escuro': Violência Contra Mulheres e Meninas Brasileiras em Londres (Portuguese long version) - (pdf) 999 Kb
- McIlwaine and Evans (2018) 'Não se pode lutar no escuro': Violência Contra Mulheres e Meninas Brasileiras em Londres (Portuguese short version) - (pdf) 829 Kb
- Krenzinger et al (2018) Violence Against Women in Complexo Maré, Rio de Janeiro - (pdf) 485 Kb
- Krenzinger et al (2018) Violência Contra Mulheres no Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese). - (pdf) 492 Kb
Exhibitions
Artistic outputs
The project resulted in a range of artistic outcomes:
1) Theatre play
Efêmera, a metanarrative verbatim theatre play was developed by Brazilian playwright and actress, Gaël Le Cornec, as part of the CASA Latin American Theatre Festival in London.
- London: Efêmera was performed at the CASA Festival at the Southwark Playhouse, London in October 2017 for 3 performances, all sold-out to 300 people. One show was followed by a panel discussion with Cathy McIlwaine, Rosie Hunter from Peoples’ Palace Projects and Gael le Cornec.
- Rio de Janeiro: Efêmera was also performed in Rio de Janeiro at the Casa de Bellas Artes in Mare (where the Brazilian research was conducted) and at Sede das Cias (a feminist theatre festival in Lapa, Rio) to 120 people in November 2017. Both shows were followed by panel discussions with Cathy McIlwaine, Gael le Cornec, Eliana Silva and Paul Heritage.
- Brighton: Efêmera was performed at the Brighton Fringe Festival in May 2018 x three shows to 60 people (short-listed for the Green Curtain Award)
Feedback from Brighton shows:
“Efemera was absolutely fantastic and emotional. It spoke to me on a personal and deep level. As a Mexican-American who has been sexually abused as a child and later on helped others deal with the same issues. It is inspired and I’m continually inspired by those who choose to speak out. Thank you!”
“This is such important research that needs to be shared and publicised. The performance made me feel hopeful that the arts can live a platform for the voices of the victims of social violence - since they are so often failed by the media and the justice system. Good work!"
2) Short awareness-raising documentary film
Raising Awareness of VAWG among Brazilians in London
Trigger warning: the content of this film deals with issues of violence against women, including sexual abuse and rape. If you have been affected by any of these issues, help and support is available from the following organisations:
- Latin American Women's Rights Service (LAWRS): www.lawrs.org.uk/pt/
- Latin American Women's Aid (LAWA): www.lawadv.org.uk
- Refuge: www.refuge.org.uk
- Women’s Aid: www.womensaid.org.uk
3) Short fiction film
Ana is a short fiction film based on the theatre play, Efêmera – again written by Brazilian playwright and actress, Gaël Le Cornec. It premiered in August 2019 in Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan as part of the WOW Film Festival (Selected Category: Best Fiction Short).
4) Audio-visual installation
Scar was an audio-visual installation created by Bia Lessa, one of Brazil’s most renowned theatre directors/artists/filmmakers. It was based on interviews with 20 women from the favela of Maré, Rio de Janeiro whose testimonies were filmed. It was performed at the Women of the World Festival, Southbank Centre, London, March 2018, and was open for three days and attended by approximately 500 people.
A performance was also held in Casa de Bellas Artes, in Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janiero in March 2018 with 50 people.
Media coverage
- BBC news Brasil / 20/03/2018 / 'Minha mãe não quer ouvir falar. É como se estupro de menino gay fosse justificado': o relato em Londres de uma trans brasileira
- G1 Globo.com / 15/03/2018 / Mulheres da favela da Maré contam suas histórias sobre violência em instalação
- CityMetric / 23/11/16 / Can the New Urban Agenda make the world’s cities safer for women and girls?
- BBC news Brasil / 11/10/16 / Lições da Maré: como combater a violência a partir de um projeto exclusivo para mulheres
- The Conversation / 21/10/16 / How can we make the world’s cities safer for women and girls?
Reports
- McIlwaine and Evans (2018) We Can't Fight in the Dark: Violence Against Women and Girls among Brazilians in London (long version) - (pdf) 1891 Kb
- McIlwaine and Evans (2018) We Can't Fight in the Dark: Violence Against Women and Girls among Brazilians in London (short version) - (pdf) 995 Kb
- McIlwaine and Evans (2018) 'Não se pode lutar no escuro': Violência Contra Mulheres e Meninas Brasileiras em Londres (Portuguese long version) - (pdf) 999 Kb
- McIlwaine and Evans (2018) 'Não se pode lutar no escuro': Violência Contra Mulheres e Meninas Brasileiras em Londres (Portuguese short version) - (pdf) 829 Kb
- Krenzinger et al (2018) Violence Against Women in Complexo Maré, Rio de Janeiro - (pdf) 485 Kb
- Krenzinger et al (2018) Violência Contra Mulheres no Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese). - (pdf) 492 Kb
Exhibitions
Artistic outputs
The project resulted in a range of artistic outcomes:
1) Theatre play
Efêmera, a metanarrative verbatim theatre play was developed by Brazilian playwright and actress, Gaël Le Cornec, as part of the CASA Latin American Theatre Festival in London.
- London: Efêmera was performed at the CASA Festival at the Southwark Playhouse, London in October 2017 for 3 performances, all sold-out to 300 people. One show was followed by a panel discussion with Cathy McIlwaine, Rosie Hunter from Peoples’ Palace Projects and Gael le Cornec.
- Rio de Janeiro: Efêmera was also performed in Rio de Janeiro at the Casa de Bellas Artes in Mare (where the Brazilian research was conducted) and at Sede das Cias (a feminist theatre festival in Lapa, Rio) to 120 people in November 2017. Both shows were followed by panel discussions with Cathy McIlwaine, Gael le Cornec, Eliana Silva and Paul Heritage.
- Brighton: Efêmera was performed at the Brighton Fringe Festival in May 2018 x three shows to 60 people (short-listed for the Green Curtain Award)
Feedback from Brighton shows:
“Efemera was absolutely fantastic and emotional. It spoke to me on a personal and deep level. As a Mexican-American who has been sexually abused as a child and later on helped others deal with the same issues. It is inspired and I’m continually inspired by those who choose to speak out. Thank you!”
“This is such important research that needs to be shared and publicised. The performance made me feel hopeful that the arts can live a platform for the voices of the victims of social violence - since they are so often failed by the media and the justice system. Good work!"
2) Short awareness-raising documentary film
Raising Awareness of VAWG among Brazilians in London
Trigger warning: the content of this film deals with issues of violence against women, including sexual abuse and rape. If you have been affected by any of these issues, help and support is available from the following organisations:
- Latin American Women's Rights Service (LAWRS): www.lawrs.org.uk/pt/
- Latin American Women's Aid (LAWA): www.lawadv.org.uk
- Refuge: www.refuge.org.uk
- Women’s Aid: www.womensaid.org.uk
3) Short fiction film
Ana is a short fiction film based on the theatre play, Efêmera – again written by Brazilian playwright and actress, Gaël Le Cornec. It premiered in August 2019 in Tunisia, Morocco and Jordan as part of the WOW Film Festival (Selected Category: Best Fiction Short).
4) Audio-visual installation
Scar was an audio-visual installation created by Bia Lessa, one of Brazil’s most renowned theatre directors/artists/filmmakers. It was based on interviews with 20 women from the favela of Maré, Rio de Janeiro whose testimonies were filmed. It was performed at the Women of the World Festival, Southbank Centre, London, March 2018, and was open for three days and attended by approximately 500 people.
A performance was also held in Casa de Bellas Artes, in Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janiero in March 2018 with 50 people.
Media coverage
- BBC news Brasil / 20/03/2018 / 'Minha mãe não quer ouvir falar. É como se estupro de menino gay fosse justificado': o relato em Londres de uma trans brasileira
- G1 Globo.com / 15/03/2018 / Mulheres da favela da Maré contam suas histórias sobre violência em instalação
- CityMetric / 23/11/16 / Can the New Urban Agenda make the world’s cities safer for women and girls?
- BBC news Brasil / 11/10/16 / Lições da Maré: como combater a violência a partir de um projeto exclusivo para mulheres
- The Conversation / 21/10/16 / How can we make the world’s cities safer for women and girls?
Our Partners
Latin American Women's Rights Service
Principal Investigator
Cathy McIlwaine
Vice Dean (Research), Faculty of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Affiliations
Project websites
Funding
Funding Body: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Amount: £534,000
Period: February 2016 - August 2019