Paula Leanza on Aconcagua Radio: "The bar for being a good man is very low."

Gender-based violence is not limited to a single incident or an isolated act, but rather a long-term process with multiple forms and manifestations. This is explained by Paula Leanza, deputy secretary of the gender-based violence prosecutor's office in Mendoza, who invites us to look "a little further back" to understand the true scale of the problem.

"It's not a matter of minutes or hours. The violence women suffer can last for years, many years, and take different forms and forms," ​​says Leanza, noting that Law 26485 recognizes a variety of forms of violence, although it is not exhaustive in terms of all existing forms.

Among the most common, but less visible, forms of violence, economic violence stands out. "It's like a silent form of violence, although not so much so because it's noticeable, because it's visible from the outside." This type of violence includes situations such as being prohibited from going to work or economic dependence that affects women's autonomy. "Women who stay home to care for their children and are not allowed to go out to work see a loss to their assets and their finances because they can no longer access their own money," explains Leanza.

Furthermore, the deputy secretary highlights the invisible role of caregiving tasks, which mostly fall on women. "Caregiving tasks are the most thankless, because they don't pay social security, they don't get vacation time, and no one sees or acknowledges them," she notes, broadening her reflection to caregiving beyond maternity, including for the elderly, disabled, or hospitalized.

This network of invisible and silent violence often precedes physical or direct violence. "When a woman decides to report, she's usually already afraid for her life or the lives of her children," says Leanza. In fact, she warns that "in my experience, they report more for the lives of their children than for their own."

The specialist also highlights the influence of cultural upbringing, which encourages women to put themselves at a disadvantage for the well-being of their families and maintain emotional bonds that can become harmful over time. "It's not that women fall in love or want to have children with violent men; this is extremely progressive," she clarifies.

Even if the regulatory framework exists and the protocols are drafted, the reality is often different. Given the alarming data on femicides and a strong call for institutional action, Leanza did not shy away from uncomfortable topics: "The bar for being a good man is very low," he stated, in contrast to the societal demands placed on women.

So far this year, Mendoza has recorded five femicides. The national average is that every 31 hours a woman is murdered by her partner or ex-partner. However, the system still responds slowly and poorly. “Until someone dies, there's no reaction. And even then, sometimes there isn't,” Leanza said. “I think there should be a strong response. We have a very pro-independence law, Law 26.485, in force since 2009, in addition to international treaties that Argentina has ratified, and yet, this legislation doesn't reach everyday practices.”

One of the main issues lies in the role of educational and healthcare institutions, often the first point of contact for women. What happens if a teacher suspects a mother is being abused? Should she report it? Can she do so without her consent? “It's complex. If the woman isn't ready to disengage, she may see such a report as a betrayal,” she explained. However, she was clear: “If indicators of serious physical or psychological violence are detected, it is the institution's obligation to report it or, at least, activate prevention protocols.”

The interview highlighted the structural flaws of a system that still places the entire burden on the victims. “Then we wonder why they don't ask for help. Why not? If all institutions are so kind to them?” Leanza quipped. “The reality is that when a woman arrives at a health facility with injuries, there should be protocols to warn that these injuries aren't consistent with a fall in the bathroom. But what I see is that often, only reports are made. It's as if the report serves as bureaucratic support for the official, but nothing further progress is made.”

In addition to the institutional level, Leanza delved into the cultural conditions that perpetuate violence. “We need to begin to dispel this idea that a man who is abusive toward his partner can be a good father. He isn't. Anyone who creates a context of violence in the home is not a good family member and should not continue to have contact with the children,” he stated.

These kinds of ideas, he maintained, are rooted in old preconceptions: "Because he's the provider, he's a good father. But that's archaic. I always say that socially, the bar for being a good man is very low: just working is enough. On the other hand, to be a good woman, and especially a good mother, the bar is very high."

The education system also perpetuates these inequalities. “If a child misses school, the mother is called. If they forget their backpack or don't bring their homework, the same thing happens. There's always a woman in the background, as if the responsibility for education falls solely on them,” she noted. In this sense, Leanza emphasized that the analysis of the obstacles women face in seeking help must be comprehensive. “It's interesting to ask why they don't ask for help, not from a place of reproach, but from a true understanding of what they're experiencing.”

One possible path, according to the prosecutor, is to move forward vigorously with the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). “We have a legal framework that requires CSE to be taught in schools, but it is still not implemented in all settings. It often depends on the teacher or the school, and that shouldn't be the case. It should be an institutional policy,” she maintained. “We remain a secular state. The law must be upheld regardless of personal beliefs.”

Regarding the resistance that ESI generates in certain sectors, she clarified: "It doesn't mean imposing a lifestyle. It's designed so that children can recognize abuse and set limits on their bodies. Nothing more."

Another aspect she addressed was the impact of femicides on the victims' families. “It seems like the perpetrator only destroys one person, but leaves a mark of pain on the entire community,” she asserted. “Not just on the children, or the immediate family. Also on neighbors, colleagues, teachers. Even on the family of the femicide, who are experiencing shame and guilt. There's a message of fear that resonates deeply, especially among adolescent girls: the fear of going out alone, of dressing or wearing makeup the way they like, of simply living freely.”

To illustrate, Leanza shared a personal anecdote with her 18-year-old daughter: “I told her, 'You have such an open mind, and you sing songs that degrade women. How do you explain that to me?' She replied, 'Don't get so fundamentalist, Mom.' And of course, the song was catchy, but it makes us think about all the assumptions we make without question.”

Regarding the urgent actions that should be taken, he was emphatic: “Structural changes won't happen in the short term, but there are things that can be started today. The effective implementation of ESI is one of them. Also, real and mandatory training for public service providers at all levels: health, education, and justice. And let them stop being empty declarations. Let them become practical.”

Faced with the magnitude of the problem, Leanza sent a clear message: “If we continue to expect the system to work only after a death, we are always arriving too late. We cannot continue to normalize violence or relegate responsibility. It's time to act.”

Listen to the full article here, and you can listen to the radio live at www.aconcaguaradio.com