Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / An exploratory and descriptive research design was selected together with a combination of both a quantitative and qualitative research approach to obtain the necessary information, insight and knowledge regarding the social welfare services offered to female victims of domestic violence in shelters. The motivation for this investigation stemmed from the lack of information on social welfare services offered to these female victims. The researcher became aware of this lack of information due to the fact that only limited studies and investigations had been done into the social welfare services offered to female victims of domestic violence within South Africa. The goal of this study is therefore to gain a better understanding of the social welfare services offered to female victims of domestic violence in shelters in order to provide recommendations to social service practitioners for the improvement of social welfare services in such circumstances. The literature study firstly focused on the theories, conceptualisation and dimensions of domestic violence in order to gain an understanding and knowledge base of the theories that describe domestic violence, concepts that provide an understanding of the phenomenon of domestic violence as well the dimensions of domestic violence. Furthermore, the literature study focuses on the policies, legislations and the government’s commitment to address domestic violence in South Africa. The primary focus of the literature study was to investigate the social welfare services that are offered to female victims of domestic violence in shelters. The researcher contacted the Department of Social Development of the Western Cape in order to identify the shelter organisations that offer social welfare services to female victims of domestic violence and finally a purposive sampling was done of ten shelters in the Western Cape Metropole area which offer social welfare services to female victims of domestic violence. A qualitative and quantitative investigation was performed by means of conducting semi-structured interviews with the aid of an interview guide. The results of the investigation mainly confirmed the findings of the literature study that domestic violence is an inherent part of the life in South Africa, also that domestic violence has a variety of causes and consequences and that social welfare services offered to female victims of domestic violence are an important part of the process of empowerment in shelters. The recommendations were aimed at services in shelters and professional persons involved in the rehabilitation and empowerment of abused women during their accommodation in the shelters. The recommendations also included further research to explore the impact of these social welfare services on female residents, and to address the areas where social welfare services fall short in order to provide insight into the development of other social welfare services that are needed by female residents when entering a shelter.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Domestic violence in South Africa is increasingly becoming a major social problem. Domestic violence disrupts family life and the functioning of family members. However, domestic violence is still narrowly defined and viewed as affecting women who are usually the victims/survivors of such violence. The impact of domestic violence on children is largely underestimated and ignored. Most research and intervention programmes have focused on the problem as it affects women thus treating the impact of violence on children as of secondary importance. The aim of this study is to examine domestic violence from the perspective of black teenagers who either witness or experience such violence themselves. In an attempt to understand and make sense of Black teenagers' experiences and views of violence in their homes and intimate relationships, insights from different theoretical perspectives are used. These are Trauma theory, Social learning theory and the Funnel of Violence theory. Using a qualitative methodology, the study explores black teenagers experiences of domestic violence in their home of origin and their perceptions of violence in intimate relationships. Focus group interviews were conducted with 22 black male and female teenagers between the ages of 14 and 21 to obtain data. The study was conducted in Kayamandi, a township situated in the Stellenbosch area. The findings revealed that the teenagers have been exposed to constant conflict between their parents, the causes of which include alcohol abuse and infidelity. The exposure to violence at home has been traumatic and has affected teenagers on an emotional, psychological and sometimes physical level. The conflict at home has also affected their ability to cope and adopt in their social and school environment. Some have also been direct victims of violence since they have suffered abuse at the hands of both their parents. As a result, their relationship with their parents has been strained. In addition, they seem to have adopted distorted views on how to deal with problems within relationships. They tend to view violence as a means to resolve conflict in intimate relationships and some of these teenagers have come to believe that violence is acceptable since it is an indication of love. They also believe that violent behaviour is a consequence of provocation and is carried out unwittingly to punish and discipline the victim. In most cases the victims of violence are women. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesinsgeweld word toenemend as 'n sosiale probleem binne die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing geïdentifiseer. Gesinsgeweld word gesien as dat dit die gesinslewe en die gesonde funksionering van gesinslede ontwrig. Gesinsgeweld word egter grootliks gedefinieer as dat dit slegs volwasse vroue affekteer. Die impak van gesinsgeweld op kinders word grootliks onderskat en selfs geïgnoreer. Navorsing oor gesinsgeweld en intervensieprogramme is dus hoofsaaklik gerig op die impak daarvan op vroue as slagoffers. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die impak van gesinsgeweld op kinders in die gesin te ondersoek. Ten einde swart tienderjariges se blootstelling aan gesinsgeweld en die wyse waarop hulle geweld binne intieme verhoudings konseptualiseer te interpreteer, is insigte uit verskillende teoretiese perspektiewe aangewend. Die belangrikste perspektiewe is Trauma teorie, Sosiale Leerteorie en die sg. 'Funnel of violence' teorie. Die studie is kwalitatief van aard en eksploreer swart tienderjariges se sienings van geweld binne hul gesin van oorsprong asook hul siening van die rol van geweld binne intieme verhoudings. Fokusgroeponderhoude is gevoer met 22 swart manlike en vroulike tienderjariges tussen die ouderdom van 14 en 21 jaar woonagtig in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. Van die belangrikste bevindings is dat swart tienderjariges alkoholmisbruik en huweliksontrouheid as die belangrikste aanleidende oorsake van geweld in die gesin identifiseer. Tienderjariges ervaar gesinsgeweld as traumaties en geweld beïnvloed hulle op emosionele en sielkundige vlak. Blootstelling aan geweld het ook 'n invloed op hul vermoë om suksesvol binne hul sosiale- en skoolomgewing te funksioneer. Terwyl die meeste deelnemers nie self slagoffers van gesinsgeweld was nie, was enkeles wel. Dit het stremming tussen ouers en kinders tot gevolg gehad. Blootstelling aan geweld beïnvloed tienderjariges se vermoë om konflik binne intieme verhoudings suksesvol te hanteer. Sommige definieer geweld as 'n indikator van liefde. Sommige interpreteer geweld as grootliks onbedoeld en 'n wyse om 'n persoon (gewoonlik 'n vrou) te straf en te dissiplineer. In die meeste situasies is vroue die slagoffers van geweld.

This study uses qualitative research consisting of six semi-structural interviews of treatment workers who, in various capacities, have worked with men who use violence against their female partners. The purpose has been to show what the treatment counselor understand to be the reasons behind the men’s violence, what kind of backgrounds and problems they believe these abusers have and, lastly, how they view the male abusers as clients. The empirical data was analyzed through four perspectives and explanatory models derived from the past thirty years of Scandinavian research on the reasons behind men’s violence against women. Connell’s theory of masculinity was used as a filter along with the four theoretical perspectives when interpreting the data. The study revealed that the respondents found no consistent group of men who abuse. The respondents brought up reasons such as possible earlier exposure to violence, fear of abandonment, jealousy, feelings of powerlessness, and failed expectations of gender roles to be some consistent causes behind the violence. In general, according to the treatment workers, the male abusers they encounter tend to struggle with their self-image and how they fulfill perceived male ideals.

This thesis is based on research conducted at the University of the Western Cape, a previously &lsquo / coloured&rsquo / university with its beginnings rooted in the political tensions in South Africa. The university is geographically disadvantaged since it is situated on the Cape Flats, which is viewed as a potentially violent area with high crime rates. The study focuses on students who stay in in- and off-campus residences since they are exposed to potential violence when they move inside as well as outside the campus and residence vicinity. In addition to semi-structured interviews conducted with students from the university, I draw on my own experiences as a student having lived in on- and off-campus residences at the university.<br /> <br /> In this thesis I investigate the tactics students use to stay safe in the face of potential violence in student residences and also in the vicinity of the university. I refer to violence in the same way as Scheper-Hughes and Bourgois (2004) do - as falling on a continuum along with other forms of violence which include structural violence, torture, genocide, political violence, state violence, symbolic violence, sexual violence and colonial violence. When students move outside of campus and residences they fear being robbed, murdered or sexually violated. Students also felt that if this should happen to them, others present will not step in to help them. The tactics students use to stay safe outside and on campus include moving in numbers, staying away from deserted or specific places at certain times, walking fast with a serious facial expression, and greeting oncomers. In residences women particularly feared going to ablution areas at certain times of the day because of stories they heard<br /> about sexual violence taking place in showers. The tactics they used to stay safe from that involved taking showers during &lsquo / peak&rsquo / hours. However, a lack of trust which students have in residential administrators impedes the safety students experience in residences. I questioned how students can feel safe outside residences when residential organisation leaves their safety precarious. Overall I found that awareness of potentially dangerous spaces, through stories, the news media or witness, informed students&rsquo / tactics of safety.<br /> <br /> Furthermore, this thesis explores the relevance of formal campus services in response to violence in the everyday lives of students who live in in- and off-campus residences. I discuss the changes that have taken place in terms of campus security, and how the meanings of safety, play an important role in the ways the university as an institution responds to violence. The meanings of safety and security also translate into specific safety interventions, which I found to focus more on perpetrators of violence from &lsquo / outside&rsquo / , that on perpetrators of violence on the &lsquo / inside&rsquo / . In the institution&rsquo / s dealings with sexual violence I also explore how perceptions of sexual violence and relationship dynamics influence the infection of HIV/AIDS, and the university&rsquo / s approach to dealing with this threat to students&rsquo / safety.

Våld i nära relation och grov kvinnofridskränkning är aktuella frågor som har fått stort utrymme i media på senare år. Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka om det framkommer mönster och beskrivningar av hur målsäganden (brottsoffren) och de tilltalade (gärningspersonerna) framställs och beskrivs i förundersökningsprotokoll med tillhörande domar avseende grov kvinnofridskränkning. Tidigare forskning förklarar orsakerna till mäns våld mot kvinnor utifrån olika vetenskaper, så som socioekologiska faktorer, biologiska förklaringar och ur ett könsmaktsperspektiv. Teorierna som använts i den här studien är Nils Christies teori om det ideala brottsoffret och den ideala gärningspersonen samt teorin om genus. Förundersökningsprotokollen och domarna har textanalyserats och diskursanalys har använts för att fokusera på diskurserna och maktrelationerna inom den. Resultatet bekräftar mycket av tidigare forskning främst att majoriteten av gärningspersonerna tenderar att ha ett kontrollerande och svartsjukt beteende och att brottsoffren kunde beläggas skuld för våldet. Samtidigt som teorin om det ideala offret och gärningsperson inte uppfylldes på alla kriterium. En majoritet av brottsoffren hade nämligen det ekonomiska överläget över gärningspersonerna som i flera fall var arbetslösa. Flera av brottsoffren försökte att rädda relationen för att de älskade sina män så innerligt. Kontrollerande gärningspersoner och kärleksfulla brottsoffer.

Syftet var att undersöka elevers fysiska och psykiska våld mot lärare utifrån personliga attribut hos lärarna samt om förekomst av våld kan förknippas med negativa emotionella konsekvenser. En enkät besvarades av 246 lärare (M = 46 år, SD = 10,50) och resultaten visade att lärarna upplevde att psykiskt våld förekom i högre utsträckning än fysiskt våld. Resultaten visade även att ju mer bristande auktoritet och klassrumshantering som lärarna uppvisade, desto mer frekvent upplevde de fysiskt och psykiskt våld. Vidare visade resultaten att ju mindre hjälpsam och uppskattad lärarna var av eleverna desto mer frekvent upplevde de det fysiska våldet. Ju mer lärarna hade hört talas om psykiskt våld visades även påverka lärarnas otrygghet, bristande engagemang och nedstämdhet. Sambandet mellan fysiskt våld och de tre kategorierna av konsekvenserna försvann när det även kontrollerades för kön och psykiskt våld. De olika kategorierna av konsekvenser visades även korrelera med varandra vilket innebar att när den ena kategorin ökade, ökade även de andra två. Sammanfattningsvis är det viktigt att även ta hänsyn till de lärare som enbart hör talas om våldsamma händelser eftersom de också upplever negativa konsekvenser av våldet. / The aim was to examine students´ physical and psychological violence against teachers based on personal attributes of the teacher and whether the occurrence of violence can be associated with negative emotional consequences. A questionnaire was answered by 246 teachers (M = 46years, SD = 10,50) and the results showed that the teachers experienced that the psychological violence was more frequent than the physical violence. The results also showed that the more lacking authority and classroom techniques the teachers inhibited, the more frequent they perceived the physical and psychological violence. Further, the less helpful and appreciated the teachers was perceived by the students, the more frequent they perceived the physical violence. How they perceived the violence was also shown to influence the teacher’s safety, lacking commitment and depression. The correlation between physical violence and the three categories of consequences disappeared when gender and psychological violence was controlled for. The three categories of consequences also correlated with each other which means that if one of the categories increased, so did the other two. In summary, it is important to also consider the teachers who only hear about violent events since they also suffer consequences from it.

Introdução: A violência contra mulheres apresenta-se, na atualidade, como complexa questão de naturezas notadamente social, jurídica e de saúde, que desafia a maioria dos países quer do ponto de vista da produção do conhecimento, quer do ponto de vista de seu enfrentamento por políticas públicas que envolvem diferentes tipos de práticas. Objetivo: Caracterizar trajetórias de vida e condições de vulnerabilidade de mulheres que vivenciaram violência por parceiro íntimo; identificar concepções acerca dos lugares da mulher e do homem na sociedade contemporânea; identificar buscas e caminhos das mulheres frente à violência vivenciada; desvelar significados atribuídos à violência vivenciada e marcas presentes; identificar, na perspectiva das mulheres, sinalizadores de violência e de relações igualitárias entre homens e mulheres na sociedade e o significado atribuído à Lei Maria da Penha, assim como à Rede de Prevenção e Enfrentamento da Violência contra a mulher. Metodologia: Trata-se de pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, na qual foram realizadas entrevistas com dez mulheres que vivenciaram violência doméstica, selecionadas em Centro Defesa e Convivência da Mulher CDCM, do qual participavam. A partir das narrativas apresentadas, foram identificadas categorias empíricas que compuseram categorias gerais, para fins analíticos. As narrativas das mulheres foram inscritas nessas categorias e interpretadas à luz de perspectivas das Ciências Sociais e de Estudos de Gênero. Resultados e Discussão: As narrativas das mulheres apontam para marcas presentes, relacionadas à vivência de múltiplas violências, com implicações para novos relacionamentos afetivo-sexuais, apresentando-se o medo como marca das mais significativas. Depreende-se do conjunto de relatos apresentados que a judicialização das relações conjugais de gênero apresenta limitações para responder às demandas de mulheres vivendo em situação de violência, tendo em vista a complexidade das mesmas, questão essa que parece relacionada não somente à insuficiente implementação da Lei Maria da Penha, mas, igualmente, a problemas de acolhimento para a multiplicidade de demandas que a violência envolve, em termos jurídicos, sociais e de saúde. Daí, ganhar expressão a relevância de se pensar o enfrentamento da violência e de suas implicações não de maneira setorial, mas intersetorial e interdisciplinar, em termos de uma Rede de Atendimento. Nesse sentido, pudemos observar que a vivência no referido CDCM, parte da Rede Leste de Atendimento, trouxe mudanças na vida das mulheres, consideradas por elas significativas, com destaque para o aumento da auto-estima e relativo empoderamento, assim como a aquisição de uma nova visão pautada pela igualdade de gênero, notadamente pelo apoio psicológico e participação em grupos reflexivos. Nessa perspectiva, identificaram sinalizadores de relações conjugais igualitárias, assim como sinalizadores de Violência por Parceiro Íntimo. Considerações Finais: A adoção da apresentação dos relatos das mulheres acerca das vivências em relação à violência, em termos de trajetórias de vida, apresentou-se como relevante estratégia do ponto de vista teórico-metodológico por permitir apontar as relações entre biografias individuais e coletivas, estreitamente relacionadas a diferentes circunstâncias de vida e relações conjugais de gênero das mulheres entrevistadas que imprimem condições de vulnerabilidades específicas, assim como diferentes possibilidades das mesmas romperem com a situação de violência vivenciada e superarem muitas das marcas grafadas impressas por tais vivências. Assim, diante do significado da vivência de violência por parte das mulheres e dos desafios enfrentados pelas mesmas para romper tal situação, descortinou-se a relevância do trabalho interdisciplinar e intersetorial, constitutivos de uma Rede de Serviços que contemple a interinstitucionalidade na prevenção e no enfrentamento da violência, assim como o trabalho multi e interdisciplinar por parte das respectivas equipes, no sentido do acolhimento das diferentes demandas, em todas as suas especificidades e complexidades. / Introduction: The violence against women is shown as a complex issue nowadays, and notably a social, juridical, public security and health question that defy most countries, either being of a knowledge production point of view, or from its facing with public policy that involve different types of practice. Objectives: to characterize womens life stories and vulnerability conditions that suffered violence from an intimate partner; to identify conceptions about women and men roleplay into current society; to identify womens searches and paths before the experienced violence; to exhibit the meaning attached to the womens violence experience and present marks of violence; to identify, into womens perspective, violence signals and equal relationships among men and women into society and the meaning attached to Maria da Penha Law and the Prevention and Confrontation Against Women Violence Network. Methodology: This research has a qualitative nature, in which interviews were done with ten women that experienced domestic violence, that were selected from the Women Defense and Coexistance Center - CDCM, where they attended. Beginning from the narratives, empirical categories that composed general categories were identified for analytical purposes. Womens narratives were included into these categories and these narratives were understood under the Social Sciences and Gender Studies perspective. Results and Discussion: The narratives of the women indicate present marks, related to the multiple violence experience, with implications to new affective and sexual relationships, showing the fear as one of the most significant marks. Into the presented reports, it is understood that the conjugal and gender relationships judicialization shows limitations to respond needs living in violence situation, knowing the complex situation of them, and this issue is not only related to the insufficient Maria da Penha Law implementation, but, equally related to problems with hospitality to the multiple needs that violence evolves, into legal, social and health terms. Therefrom, the relevance of thinking the confrontation of violence and its implications gains expression but not in a sectorial way, but into a intersectorial and interdisciplinary way, as an Attention Network. For that matter, we could notice that the experience at the referred CDCM, part of East Attention Network, brought changes into womens lives, considered by them meaningful, with emphasis to self-esteem and relative empowerment increase, as well as the acquisition of a new way of view based on gender equality, notably by the psychological support and reflexive group therapy participation. Into this perspective, markers of equal marital relationships were identified, as well as Violence by intimate partner markers. Final Considerations: The presentation of womens reports about their experiences related to violence, in life path terms, appeared itself as a relevant strategy from the theoretical-methodological point of view allowing to point the relation between personal and collective biographies, strictly related to different life circumstances and interviewed women gender marital relationships that show specific vulnerabilities, as well as different possibilities of these women to break up with the experienced violence situation and to overcome many marks that have got impressed by these experiences. Thereby, facing the meaning experienced violence by part of the women and the challenges faced by them to break through these situations, the relevance of interdisciplinary and intersectorial work, constitutive of an Attending Network that includes relations with institutions at violence prevention and confrontation, as well as multi and interdisciplinary work by the respective teams, receiving the different needs, into its whole specialities and complexity.

Apesar de a violência conjugal contra as mulheres de classes médias ser um problema social comum na sociedade brasileira, a maioria das pesquisas existentes sobre este tema ou enfoca as mulheres vítimas de classes populares, ou é analisada sobre a perspectiva jurídica. Esta pesquisa visa mostrar que este tipo de violência também ocorre nas classes médias no município de São Paulo. Por meio da análise quantitativa das ocorrências arquivadas em 2000, 2003 e 2004 na 2ª Delegacia de Defesa da Mulher (DDM) deste município, é possível indicar que as mulheres destas classes sociais têm denunciado as diversas formas de violência sofrida (embora a maioria delas tenha afirmado não ter feito queixa do primeiro episódio de agressão sofrido). A realização de entrevistas nesta DDM com mulheres pertencentes às classes médiamédia e média-alta foram de vital importância na compreensão de alguns de seus valores sociais (como, por exemplo, tradicionais, modernos e patriarcais). Também foram investigados quais motivos influenciaram a postergação em denunciar os episódios de violência. Entre alguns dos motivos da postergação identificados pode-se citar: dependência emocional, medo, dependência econômica, entre outros. Como as duas fases da pesquisa (quantitativa e qualitativa) ocorreram em 2005, o trabalho se baseia na regulamentação então em vigor - a lei 9.099 de 1995 -, já que a aprovação da lei Maria da Penha ocorreu em agosto de 2006. Identificou-se um quadro de impunidade dos casos de violência conjugal, influenciado pelas leis (principalmente a lei 9.099), pela desmotivação e falta de treinamento das escrivãs e policiais das DDM´s. Este trabalho sugere que além das mudanças necessárias nas políticas públicas, o investimento nas áreas de moradia, trabalho e educação seriam de grande valia para propiciar maior independência a estas mulheres. / In spite of marital violence against women of middle classes is a common social problem in the Brasilian society; most of the research deals with women of low classes or it is analysed among its juridical perspective. This research aims to show that this kind of violence also occurs in middle classes in São Paulo´s city. Through the analysis of the charges pressed during the years 2000, 2003 and 2004 at the 2nd DDM; it is possible to indicate that the women of these classes have pressed charges of several types of violence that they suffered (though most of them do not agree to press charges at the first episode of aggression). At this DDM interviews were conducted among middle class women in order to understand the social values of their family (such as traditional, modern and patriarchal values) and the reasons that they did not press charges at the first incidence of violence. Also were investigated some reasons of the lateness to report these episodes of violence. Some of the reasons for this were: emotional dependence, fear, economical dependence etc. Even with the approval of the law Maria da Penha in August 2006, it is important to point out that this work still considers law 9.099 of 1995, because the investigation occurred prior to the new laws instatement. Then, we identified an unpunished situation of the resolution of marital violence, influenced by the existence of the law 9.099, by the lack of motivation, lack of training of the police officers of the DDM´s. This work suggests that beyond the changes of politics, it is important to invest in other areas such as housing, work, education to give women more independence.

Esta pesquisa, concebida a partir de observações e dados coletados ao longo do exercício da função de Psicólogo junto à Penitenciária Feminina do Butantã, se propõe ao estudo a respeito do encarceramento de mulheres no Estado de São Paulo a partir de 1950 e, mais especificamente, de mulheres encarceradas nesta unidade prisional, em regimes fechado e semi-aberto, no período entre os anos de 2001 e 2002. A pesquisa busca identificar variáveis individuais e coletivas em relação às mulheres encarceradas, bem como fazer uma descrição da práxis de uma unidade prisional destinada ao encarceramento de mulheres. Considera-se neste estudo, a importância da visibilidade da questão da mulher encarcerada no âmbito das políticas públicas; a importância da execução penal especial para a mulher, alternativas de aplicação de penas, voltadas principalmente às pessoas que cometeram infrações, delitos e crimes que não envolvam atos de violência, além de problematizar a respeito da intervenção, reabilitação, reintegração e prevenção, visando contribuir minimamente para ações voltadas à diminuição da cultura da violência, da intolerância, da exclusão, da reincidência, da vulnerabilidade social e carcerária das mulheres. / This work, conceived from comments and data collected throughout the exercise and professional performance, if considers to the study regarding the imprisonment of women in the state of São Paulo from 1950 and more specifically, of women jailed in the Feminine Prison of the closed Butantã in regimes and half-open, in the period it enters the years of 2001 and 2002. Search to identify individual and collective variable in relation to the jailed women, as well as a description of the institutional dynamics and praxis of a prisional unit destined to the imprisonment of women. It is considered in this study, the importance of the visibility of the question of the woman jailed in the scope of the public politics; the importance of special the criminal execution for the woman, the alternatives of application of penalties, directed mainly to the people who had committed infractions, offence and crimes that do not involve violence acts, beyond think forms of how to the intervention, whitewashing, reintegration and prevention, aiming at to contribute a little beat toward actions come back to the reduction of the culture of the violence, the intolerance, the exclusion, the relapse, the social and jail vulnerability of the women.

O presente trabalho desenvolve uma reflexão sobre as violências presentes no contexto escolar. A violência é compreendida como uma manifestação histórica e social, de múltiplas e complexas faces, que interage com o ambiente cultural da escola. Trata-se de uma pesquisa teórica, desenvolvida a partir de um estudo documental sobre violência escolar e de um estudo de caso em escolas públicas localizadas no município de São Paulo. Um dos objetivos deste trabalho foi identificar as faces da violência no contexto escolar, apresentando uma síntese da leitura de mundo sobre o tema a partir de pesquisas realizadas após os anos 90. A tese teve ainda por objetivo caracterizar o tema da violência nas obras elaboradas por Paulo Freire, de modo a explicitar as dimensões tomadas pelo autor para denunciá-la e apontar possibilidades de construção de um outro mundo possível. Os levantamentos realizados para revisão da literatura sobre violência escolar buscaram consultar resultados de pesquisa apresentados sob a forma de artigos e livros. Entre os procedimentos metodológicos e técnico-operacionais adotados para a construção teórica e o estudo documental estão estudo temático e análise textual. Percebeu-se que a violência escolar deve ser considerada em dois planos. Por um lado, considera-se a dimensão material e objetiva, por meio das perdas materiais e diferentes agressões físicas. Na dimensão simbólica consideraram-se a sutil imposição de significações alheias à comunidade com destaque para a rejeição ao diferente e a crescente insegurança, medo e receio diante das relações interpessoais. A indicação de Paulo Freire é a de que a reação dos oprimidos poderá confrontar a consciência necrófila presente nos gestos e nas ações violentas. Os oprimidos, assumindo a vocação do ser mais, a vocação de valorização da vida, acima dos desejos e interesses mesquinhos e individualistas, assumindo como instrumento de luta a amorosidade, poderão constituir outra civilização, mais humana, com menos opressão e menos injustiça. As violências escolares, tomadas como objeto de investigação e reflexão, relacionadas às considerações desenvolvidas por Paulo Freire permitem compreender que é possível um enfrentamento histórico, no âmbito social e escolar. O trabalho aponta para a escola pública e popular, fundamentada em de concepções e práticas críticas e progressistas de educação, que deve constituir-se (historicamente) como espaço de conscientização, luta e enfrentamento das várias manifestações de violência que afligem e atingem seus sujeitos. Um dos caminhos férteis é o diálogo, a educação dialógica e libertadora. / Some reflections are presented in this work trying to account for various kinds of violence observed to exist in the school context. Violence is here understood as a social and historical manifestation of a multiplicity of complex dimensions and factors, which interact with the cultural environment of the school. We are dealing here with a theoretical investigation primarily based on a documentary study of school violence and, additionally, in a study of municipal public schools in São Paulo. One of the main objectives with this study was to identify the various dimensions of violence in the school context. This was done by presenting a synthesis of available readings of the world (\"leitura do mundo\") concerning this topic, based on the analysis of various studies carried out after the 1990s. Moreover, another aim with this thesis was to characterize violence as a theme addressed by Paulo Freire in various of his works. Whereby he made explicitly identified some dimensions of violence both to denounce them as well as to point towards alternative possibilities to construct another possible world. In the review of the literature dealing with school violence, we gave priority to research results found in books and scientific articles. Thematic study and text analysis were included among the various methodological and social research techniques used in this work to support our theoretical constructs and also as guidelines for our documentary work. The concluded that school violence must be considered in two distinct planes. On the one hand, with reference to the material and objective losses and different kinds of physical aggresions. On the other hand, taking into account the symbolic dimension, one refers to the subtle imposition of inappropiate meanings attached to the violent acts in the community, with a particular emphasis on the rejection of \"otherness\", and a growing sense of insecurity, fear and distrust in the realm of interpersonal relations. Paulo Freire\'s prescription for overcoming this kind of violence lies, in the response potential of the oppressed to confront the necrophilic conscience inherent in violent gestures and actions. The oppressed, by assuming their vocation to be human, to value life, to raise over and above mean and individualistic values and interests. By assuming love as their preferred instrument of their struggle, they will be able to construct another civilization, more human, less oppresive and more just. Taking into account the reflections of Paulo Freire on the matter of school violence, here approached as a subject for investigation and reflection, lead us to understand that it is possible to historically confront it in both the social and school realms. This work points to a renewed potential of the public and popular school, when based in the critical and progressive conceptions and practices of education. A kind of school that must be (historically) constructed as a space of concietization, struggle and of confrontation against all the various manifestations of violence inflicted and adversely affecting the potential victims. We find that dialogue, dialogic and liberating education constitute some of the fertile ways we have at our disposal to attain our aims of diminishing both physical and symbolic violence in the school context and culture.