ECM – Scuola Medica Ospedaliera – Violence Against the Female Reality: Psychopathological Dynamics and Related Phenomena

The theme of this course is violence against the female reality, a tragedy that continues to renew itself despite the relentless struggle for women’s emancipation.

The investigation begins with an exploration of the evolution of philosophical thought, which, since the birth of Western logos, has affirmed the separation of the soul from the body, keeping the latter in a state of imprisonment. Continuing the research, we arrive at Christianity, which condemns women for having sinned and for leading men into sin. A long and relentless doctrinal evolution will ultimately equate original sin with carnal sin.

Women come to be seen as the “gateway of the devil,” and sexuality is subjected to strict control. The idea of the body as separate from the mind will lead to the delirium of anorexic saints, who sacrifice their bodies because they are guilty of “feeling.” Violence against women has not only been expressed through actions or words but also through a mode of thought that restricts freedoms and rights, manifesting itself in workplaces and affecting migrant women, who are often left unprotected. It also emerges in the language of media communication.

This violent perspective on women has enabled control over pregnancy and childbirth, depriving women of the right to choose motherhood. In the legislative sphere, significant progress has been made in protecting women, signaling a society that is rebelling against this tragedy. However, even the most advanced laws clash with the denial of female identity, which persists in the minds of many members of the judiciary.

Particular attention must be given to prevention and the training of social and healthcare professionals.

From this perspective, it is essential to recognize the signs of invisible violence, often masked by forms of seduction and flattery that disorient women, who too often struggle to name the distress they experience. Therefore, research into the causes of severe mental disorders is crucial, including the delusional perception that underpins a hidden cognitive distortion—one that views women, along with children, as a subhuman species, closer to the animal world.

To change this condition, it is necessary to intervene on a socio-cultural level as well as on a preventive and clinical level, with the firm belief in the possibility of treatment that can lead to transformation and healing from the mental illness that is always present behind every form of violence.