“YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A WOMAN”: REFLECTIONS ON LEGAL MECHANISMS FOR COMBATING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE THROUGH THE LENS OF BRAZILIAN MUSIC

Abstract

Violence against women is a historical and social phenomenon rooted in patriarchy. The Maria da Penha Law defined the types of violence against women, encouraging them to report such incidents. However, there has been no reduction in femicide rates. Women remain unprotected and continue to be targets of gender-based violence. Perpetrators are not deterred by this law; on the contrary, there is a cultural permissiveness that reinforces male superiority and domination. Among these cultural elements, music stands out as a tool that shapes behavior, spreading and normalizing violence against women. Given this context, the objective of this article is to demonstrate the relationship between femicide and patriarchal culture, as manifested through music. To this end, the song “Você não passa de uma mulher” by Martinho da Vila was used as the research corpus, drawing on the contributions of Girard’s thoughts on violence and Mbembe’s on necropolitics to reflect on the motivations behind femicide. Previous studies reveal that music is indeed a vehicle for inciting violence against women, not limited to any specific musical genre. Addressing this issue requires revising the Maria da Penha Law to guarantee safety and support for women, so that after filing a complaint, they feel at peace and see that those who harm them are punished. Thus, investing in education and the promotion of a culture of peace that helps children and adolescents respect one another is necessary to break the cycle of ideologies that oppress women.