Judicialization of Social Relations and Strategies of Recognition: Rethinking ‘Conjugal Violence’ and ‘Intrafamily Violence’

Abstract

This essay is about social movements that struggle against ‘conjugal violence’ and ‘intrafamily violence’, and places in debate the strategy of the so-called ‘conquest of judicial gains’. It first approaches the notion of ‘violence’, questioning its theoretical relevance and its analytical limits. It then discusses the centrality and or exclusivity of the measures in the realm of the courts, particularly the Women’s Division and its limits and dilemmas in terms of struggles for social recognition. It then presents a sketch of the theory about struggles for social recognition based on the work of Axel Honneth, highlighting the moral base of demands for justice and the complexity of their translation in terms of rights. In conclusion, the study points to a critical reading of judicialization of social relations, insisting on the tridimensional character of the struggles for recognition and the plurality of the political agenda in the field of ‘conjugal violence’ and ‘intrafamily violence’.