Gender issues in the process of religious welfare: violence against women and Santa Casa de Misericórdia

Abstract

Compared with the practice of charitable assistance to women in religious institutions, the research aims to show how the history of Santa Casa de Misericórdia, since its creation, can provide an understanding of the significance of that establishment as an expression of longing and protection for women capixabas (do Espírito Santo - Brasil) victims male aggression. Considering this issue and making reference to the paradigms of evidence-based methods can visualize the possibility of achieving a restoration of historical facts through research conducted in documents, reports from providers, theses and articles dealing with the history of women and gender relations, all based in institutes of assistance to women victims of violence. Still under development, research now appears that during the Ancient Regime, both in Portugal and Brazil, the charitable religious or secular, in the form of hospital or gathering, devoted to asylum also in women who suffered violence, time not understood as gender.