Doing Gender in a Toxic World. Women and Freebase Cocaine in the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Abstract

Consumption of freebase cocaine in Argentina has been investigated among males but not females. This qualitative study focuses on the complexity of relationships between gender identity and the use of drugs, investigating freebase cocaine as an example in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. In-depth interviews were conducted with female consumers in 2010. The results reveal the different ways in which female identity is constructed in the context of social vulnerability. We identify ways of doing gender and feeling like a woman in a man's world that are associated with a higher risk of violence and exclusion for being female.

Keywords :

• freebase cocaine (freebase or paco)
• gender
• gender identity
• Argentina
• violence
• qualitative study

THE AUTHORS

Nuria Romo-Avilés, PhD, is the head of the Institute for Women's Studies and Gender Research of the University of Granada (Spain) and Professor at the Social Anthropology Department. Coordinator of different research projects in relation to drug abuse and drug use prevention. She is an expert in qualitative research methods and a specialist in gender and drug use and health promotion.

Ana Clara Camarotti, PhD, is research associate at the National Council of Science and Technology based at the Gino Germani Research Institute, University of Buenos Aires (Argentina). She has been working for 10 years in the field of drug use in vulnerable populations and in prevention and health promotion. She has published books, chapters, and articles in national and international journals on these topics.

Alicia Tarragona-Camacho, PhD, is candidate at the University of Granada. Specialist nurse in emergency critical care. She has obtained degree in social and cultural anthropology from the University of Granada, and is associate professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Granada. Her research interests include emergency health care for young people with alcohol problems.

María Cecilia Touris, PhD, is candidate at the National University of Quilmes. She is associate professsor at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Her areas of research interest are substance abuse and drug abuse prevention.

GLOSSARY

Gender-based violence: Following the European Institute for Gender Equality, this is defined as violence directed against a person on the basis of gender. It constitutes a breach of the fundamental right to life, liberty, security, dignity, equality between women and men, non-discrimination, and physical and mental integrity. It remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations of our time. It is rooted in gender inequalities, and reinforces them. Gender-based violence harms women, families, communities, and society.

Gender/gender identity: The state of being male or female. Used with reference to social and cultural differences. Butlers and other authors maintain that gender, sex, and sexuality are seen as a group of manipulated codes or internalized images that change according to the setting rather than as natural identities determined by biology.

Paco/pasta base: Local terms that refer to a diverse set of substances that are included under the expert category of freebase cocaine.