Gender violence, far from being a sudden act, is rooted in control dynamics, ingrained stereotypes, and persistent social inequalities. With this premise, the Ingenio City Council organized an intensive workshop focused on positive masculinities and the prevention of gender-based violence, bringing together experts, authorities, and citizens to address this social challenge.
The initiative, promoted by the Department of Equality and Diversity, featured prominent figures such as forensic doctor and writer Miguel Lorente Acosta, lawyer Soledad Pérez Rodríguez, sociologist Carmen Ruiz Repullo, psychologist Laura Berja, and political scientist Beatriz Rubiño.
The mayor of Ingenio, Vanesa Martín, inaugurated the event, emphasizing the shared responsibility in the fight against gender violence and the need to create spaces for questioning beliefs that perpetuate unequal relationships.
The workshop included the screening of the choreography 'En el mundo de María' (In Maria's World), which illustrated the transformation of a loving relationship into a dynamic of control and fear, serving as a basis for analyzing gender violence as a structural phenomenon.
Miguel Lorente stressed that society still does not perceive the magnitude of the problem, recalling the dozens of women murdered annually in Spain and the limited social alarm generated. He advocated for positive masculinities, not as a criticism of men, but as a critical review of the traditional model that grants privileges, promoting egalitarian relationships beneficial to all.
“"Positive masculinities are about understanding masculinity in a positive way to correct the negative aspects that we currently have and generate."
Lorente also pointed out that male aggressors constitute the country's "most significant criminal group" annually, lamenting the lack of social alarm proportional to the severity of the figures. He warned about the worrying increase in denialist discourses among young people, linking it to the influence of social media and the reproduction of stereotypes.
From a legal perspective, Soledad Pérez Rodríguez highlighted the persistent lack of understanding towards victims and the need to review concepts such as romantic love, jealousy, and possession. She emphasized that prevention must go beyond judicial intervention, considering equality as the fundamental antidote against gender violence.
Sociologist Carmen Ruiz Repullo warned about the role of social media in spreading misogynistic messages and new forms of control among young people, alerting to a possible "patriarchal reordering" and the need for continuous training in educational centers.
Political scientist Beatriz Rubiño addressed masculinities from an LGTBI+ perspective, and the event concluded with a debate and the presentation of Miguel Lorente's latest book, 'Influenciables: las redes y la nueva obediencia' (Influenciables: Social Media and New Obedience).
The central idea shared was that the fight against gender violence requires a collective commitment that transcends courts and institutions, based on education, co-responsibility, and critical review of social models.
