How to Achieve the Common Good: Analysis of Discrimination and Violence Based on Gender Relations as Experienced by Male/Female Students at Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Argentina

Abstract

Since the establishment of the Program Against Gender Violence at the Universidad Nacional de San Martín, in 2013, cases of symbolic violence –such as taunts, jokes, denigration and underestimation in corridors, classrooms and faculties– have been the most frequently reported by different members of the academic community. The purpose of this article is to describe and analyze, from a quantitative and qualitative approaches, the causes and
effects of symbolic gender violence experienced by male and female students at Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Argentina. We conclude that symbolic violence is a common type of violence because it is naturalized by various members of the university community. The majority of symbolic violence is inflicted by male students against female students. However, male professors and members of the non-academic staff also engage in symbolic violence and social media harassment acts involving abuse of
power.