Additionally, the home has been viewed as an essentially private institution, impeding lawmakers from moving forward with policies against domestic violence.
Community and societal factors include media violence, poverty level, crime rate, and environmental conditions.
[10] In 2004, 44% of the Chilean population was living in poverty, and studies have shown that low socioeconomic status and stressful life events are positively correlated with domestic violence.
In Chile, it has been found that families who experience domestic violence are usually isolated and lack supportive ties among the communities in which they live.
[4] The geographic concentration of poverty in Chile, with regard to the socioeconomic opportunities and risk behaviors of marginalized families living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, has been linked to higher rates of domestic violence.
Until 1989, the Civil Code of Chile legally sanctioned husbands’ ownership and authority over their wives,[1] giving men power over their female partners and leading to abuse within the home.
Because events occurring in the home have been viewed as private family matters, historically, domestic violence has been socially and culturally accepted in Chilean society.
[1] The combination of these beliefs has allowed Chilean society to turn a blind eye to the domestic violence problem that plagues their communities.
These myths are slowly coming to light as attitudes change and a movement against domestic violence has begun among Chilean women.
Increased healthcare costs are attributed to emergency room visits, mental health services, medication, and physical therapy (2011) .
[2] With increased domestic violence rates, earnings are lower, productivity at work decreases, and labor market participation declines.
Acts of violence that would otherwise be severe crimes under the law, when occurring within the home were passed as ‘light injuries’ and minimal punishment was pursued.
[4] In 1997, SERNAM issued a detailed set of policy proposals to assure rural women equality of opportunity, a product of consultative process.
During 2006, the SERNAM partnered with NGOs to conduct courses on the legal, medical, and psychological aspects of domestic violence for police officers and judicial and municipal authorities.
[5] This intensive training program by SERNAM has increasingly allowed many Chilean police to provide effective assistance in domestic violence cases.
[21] Another barrier is posed by the Chilean medical personnel, which has been criticized for continuing to mistreat victims of domestic violence and to minimize injuries, even though today they are required by law to report known cases of physical assault to the criminal justice system.