Autonomy as a structural need to face gender violence

Abstract

The objective if this article is to present a category regarding the needs related to autonomy, recognized by professionals working in the Family Health Strategy (FHS), in terms of the health care for women who experience violence. To produce the empirical material, interviews were performed with health care professionals that comprise the FHS teams and with women users of the service. The meanings confirm the need for autonomy related to women as subjects in making decisions. However, some meanings revealed the reductionism that is translated by the de-responsabilization of the service in relation to the problem. Financial autonomy was a converging aspect among the discourses between the health service professionals and users. In conclusion, in order to deal with violence, it is essential to include the gender perspective in the health policies as well as in the practices implemented in the working process. This condition would open windows of opportunity of answers to the practical and strategic needs of the gender, and, thus, contribute to reducing the inequity between men and women and promote female emancipation.