Today is the International Day against violence against women. The Augustinian Recollect Family has projects focused on the defense of women’s rights. Today we accompany the Augustinian Recollect missionary Irma Bulux, who dedicates herself body and soul to this cause.
Irma Bulux, an Augustinian Recollect missionary from Guatemala, arrived in Guamote (Chimborazo, Ecuador) at the end of 2019. Indigenous (like 95% of the population of the place where she carries out her ministry) and with studies in Psychology, she strives in her day to day to accompany the female population with the weapons of empathy, understanding and the conviction of having received this mission as part of her religious consecration.
She is a privileged witness in the fight against structural sexism and violence against women. With her help we want to better understand the problem, glimpse possible solutions and reinforce the knowledge and dissemination of the work of the Augustinian Recollect Family for the dignity of all women.
What forms of violence against women do you face every day?
It is very sad to say it, but this is a very serious and complex problem that affects indigenous communities and also beyond them. It is very common to hear women themselves suffer from physical violence (beatings and injuries) and psychological violence (manipulation and humiliation). There is also a lot of sexual violence (abuse, rape and harassment) and material violence (deprivation of resources, dependency).
Another terrible type is obstetric violence, caused by health professionals taking advantage of pregnancy or childbirth. In the province of Chimborazo, statistics say that 58% of women suffer from it. In hospitals, girls have to hear everything and it is even common that, without their permission or knowledge, they are given contraceptive implants.
Two other types of violence that I want to point out are workplace and educational. Many girls and adolescents work for 2 dollars a day, having to pay for their own travel and food; or we can talk about the girl who is pregnant after being raped and who tried to continue her studies but no institution allowed her to enroll.
In the case of the indigenous world, it is more complicated, Spanish is not their language of usual interaction and it is difficult for them to follow, they are sent from one place to another, they are told that they are enrolled, then that they are not, and since they do not know how to defend themselves or know their rights, they give up and end up not studying.
One of the most terrible aspects of violence against women is silence. Our girls and women do not speak, they keep quiet. In addition to the aggression, they suffer a serious problem of self-esteem. And when the aggressor is a family member, the family demands that it be covered up.
What is the social impact of violence against women?
It is enormous. They lose all trust in the family and prefer to leave the community so as not to relive the pain. Without self-esteem, without trust, with depression, anxiety and shame, they are unable to establish healthy relationships, everything becomes destabilized and conflicts grow.
How does society react to violence against women?
Social and cultural factors cause violence against women to be perpetuated, normalized through beliefs, attitudes and roles. Sexism is structural and so strong that even trained leaders can tell you: “I can’t do this because my husband won’t let me.” The “what will they say,” “what will my family, my neighbors think” also causes concealment.
In Guamote there are institutions that fight against this violence, but women do not report it. They admit it as something natural, they live perpetually sad but they believe that it is logical, it must be accepted. A phrase, which has driven me crazy many times, in her natural way of speaking:
— “You are my husband, just you can hit me, it is my fault! The more you hit me, the more you love me!”
We spend hours of private and group conversations, training sessions and workshops reminding them that the husband is not an owner, that love never allows violence, that men must also do household chores… And we also talk about how and where to denounce, about not keeping quiet or putting up with what is not acceptable under any circumstances. Only a few are bringing it to light, little by little, when they feel safer.
Are there figures on the extent of violence against women in Ecuador?
According to the national survey on family relations and violence against women published in 2023 by the National Institute of Statistics and Census of the Government of Ecuador, 64.9% of women across the country have suffered some type of violence in their lives. Among them, the figures specified by type of violence are terrible: physical, 74.2%; psychological, 78%; economic, 77%; obstetric, 80%.
In Guamote the figures are significant: women victims of psychological violence: 56%; sexual: 32%; economic: 16.4%. So far in 2024, 180 murders of women due to gender violence have been reported in our region (and these are not all that have occurred).
What is the project of the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries?
The main objective of our project is the eradication of unwanted pregnancies in adolescents, which in many cases are the result of sexual violence. To achieve this objective, we believe that the best way is to educate adolescents and raise awareness in society.
We offer talks, workshops and training in educational centers and communities on violence against women, its causes and how to prevent it; how to avoid a toxic relationship; women’s rights and duties, sexual education and prevention of diseases and pregnancies.
We focus on skills, conflict resolution, self-care and mutual emotional support, the creation of a life project; so that adolescents know how to take care of their body, empower themselves, be the protagonists of their own story, from balance and encounter with themselves, how to gain respect even in such a hostile environment.
We know the importance of involving families and the community, teachers and pastoral agents, all those who work with minors. The role of the family is important, although reality tells us that mothers participate, but fathers are absent and hardly get involved, even if it is to look after their own daughters.
What are the challenges you have to overcome?
The biggest is resistance to change, to progress, to rebalancing their culture to maintain traditions, rites or customs without harming their daughters, to separating culture and violence. Language is another challenge, as well as accessibility to the communities, spread throughout the mountains.
We have the radio as an ally, which allows us to reach those more distant communities. In the program “Women of my land” (Tuesday, 4 pm) we propose examples of women’s empowerment, health and prevention, denunciation of violence… The program “Your voice” is broadcast on Facebook and focuses on women, children and families.
A message for this world day?
With everything we have said and shared, we could conclude that reality is really sad. But there are also signs of hope, the possibility that this will change: the help of ARCORES, teenage mothers who continue studying and want to change their reality.
We see changes, very slow, but changes: women who did not speak and today speak, interact, have another vision. Today they themselves say: “Yes, it can change!”.
Three of our beneficiaries have to walk half an hour to access a vehicle that takes them to Guamote, and from there another bus to Colta, where they study. One finishes Nursing and the other two study Bilingual Education. “Sometimes we don’t even have enough to eat, but we make our effort to finish University,” they tell us.
And these are also signs of hope: even in the midst of so much difficulty, which would discourage anyone, for them education transforms. Although the fruits are not seen, are not noticed immediately or at first sight, this struggle will surely bear them.
