VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN POLITICS IN LATIN AMERICA By JULIANA RESTREPO SANIN A dissertation submitted to the School of Graduate Studies Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Program in Political Science Written under the direction of Mona Lena Krook And approved by _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ New Brunswick, New Jersey October 2018 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Violence against women in politics in Latin America BY JULIANA RESTREPO SANIN Dissertation Director: Mona Lena Krook In recent years, women politicians around the world have reported being victims of harassment and violence because of their work. These practices are known as violence against women in politics or VAWIP. Latin America is the region of the world where this issue has been most widely discussed. This dissertation looks at the debates in the region to understand 1) what VAWIP is and the main manifestations in the region and 2) how discussions about VAWIP have developed and evolved. To understand this phenomenon, this research used a variety of qualitative methods including interviews with activists, politicians, and state officials from several countries in the region, along with legislative debates, women’s organizations reports, news articles, and court cases. The main finding of this research is that gender microaggressions and false accusations of corruption are systematically used in Latin America to attack women politicians and undermine their work. Based on a broad conception of violence, this dissertation also analyses diverse legislative and non-legislative measures created to end VAWIP and offers a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of these measures, and their role in improving women’s representation and electoral and democratic integrity. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I still clearly remember the afternoon when Dr. Mona Lena Krook, my graduate advisor, asked me to look what 'acoso politico' was. I did not know it then, but this meeting was the beginning of my dissertation journey. Throughout this process, Mona has been an incredible generous advisor and mentor who has given me enough liberty to make my own mistakes, and has kindly guided me. Mona has also constantly encouraged me to make broader analysis that include Latin America and beyond, and to connect theory and practice. This principle has directed my dissertation and I hope my research will help women activists, practitioners, and politicians working on violence against women in politics. Mona made sure that I was invited to the first regional discussion of VAWIP organized by the Inter-American Commission on Women and to the various meetings organized by the National Democratic Institute and UN Women. These meetings have taught me invaluable lessons about women’s experiences with violence, and have helped me to broaden my network of contacts and friends. I also had the constant support of Sue Carroll, without whom I literally would not be at Rutgers. She has offer me opportunities that have shaped both my personal and professional decisions. I will be forever grateful for her kindness and guidance. Sue’s honesty and healthy dose of skepticism has been fundamental guideline to finish writing this dissertation, and will keep directing my academic career as I embark in other ventures. Bob Kaufman has provided valuable lessons about the discipline, along with important advice both about comparative politics and Latin America. He kindly challenged iii my decision to include Peru as a second case study and to look more carefully at my case selection. This advice ultimately pushed me to take a more in-depth look at Bolivia. Jenn Piscopo pushed me to look more carefully at the motivations behind attacks on women politicians and the interactions with other forms of violence. Our differences in perspectives have reminded me that those differences only makes our work stronger and that even in disagreement it is possible to be kind and friendly. Jenn has also patiently revised earlier versions of chapters and papers and has answered innumerable silly questions, providing reassurance when I needed it the most. Besides my dissertation committee, I am enormously in debt with Rutgers’ amazing women and politics community. Kira Sanbonmatsu has offered priceless professional and academic advice since I started my Ph.D. Professor Mary Hawkesworth with whom I took a fantastic Feminist Knowledge Production class and has not doubted my ability to write to be worthwhile. Shauna Shames and Kelly Dittmar have also been incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about my research. My friends and colleagues in graduate school have also been great companions during this journey. Mary Nugent has carefully read several of my drafts, abstracts, and papers and has provided insightful suggestions that have only made my work stronger. Thank you, Mary, for your constant support, your friendship, and for visiting yarn stores at conferences with me. Haley Norris and Rebecca Kuperberg have also become my closest friends and enthusiastic supporters. I cannot thank you enough for your valuable advice, for helping me understand American culture, and for always being there. I cannot wait to iv read all of your amazing work. The Gender and Politics community is so much brighter because you are a part of it. I am also thankful to my friends and colleagues at Rutgers: Cathy Wineinger and Jessica Nevin who became my first friends at Rutgers. Amanda Roberti, Ecaterina Locoman, and Hector Bahamonde have also been willing to talk about life when it was necessary to get away from work. Grace Howard, who helped me save my kitten’s life. I cannot thank her enough for that. Jim Mahoney and the participants on the 2015 Institute for Qualitative and Multimethod Research at Syracuse, New York read and commented an early draft of my dissertation proposal and offer great feedback and enthusiastic support. Earlier versions of my dissertation were presented at the Midwest Political Science Association and the Latin American Studies Association in 2016 and I received important feedback from Caroline Beer and the participants in these panels. I also received fantastic feedback and enthusiastic support from Elin Bjarnegård, Gabrielle Bardall, Julie Ballington, Rebecca Kuperberg, and Flavia Biroli during a panel on violence against women in politics organized by Dr. Krook for the 24th International Political Science Association Annual Meeting in Poznan, Poland. I am also thankful to Denise Walsh and Jennifer Piscopo, who organized the Feminist Research Seminar, “Opposition to the Political Participation of Women and Gender Justice Advocates: Building a Feminist Research Agenda.” Sponsored by the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan. The feedback and discussions I had with Shauna Shames, Susan Ellison, Suzanna Walters, Yoo-mi Chin, v Erica Townsend-Bell, Zein Murib, Shirin Rai, Mary Hawkesworth, and Hannah Nasser have been incredibly helpful and I will always be grateful with Michelle Rowley for reminding me that my work is important. At Rutgers, I also had the opportunity to participate in the Institute for Research on Women’s annual seminar. Sarah Tobias, Arlene Stein and the participants in the 2016-2017 seminar who read a very early and later discarded version of chapter one, but whose comments and highlights were fundamental for my reflection about the importance of the local. Sandra Peppera, Caroline Hubbard, Julie Ballington, and Marta Martinez whose work has reminded me of the importance of connecting theory with the ‘real’ world and have always been supportive of my research. I admire you profoundly. Janice Gallagher who rekindle my interest in Colombia and has cheered for me all the way since we met. Thank you for your mentorship and friendship. To Team Minnesota: Lisa Hilbink, Valentina Salas, and Bridget Marchesi with whom I have learned so much about the law In Latin America. My dissertation was only possible due to the generosity of all the Latin American feminist activists and politicians that have talked to me during the last three years. Their commitment to women's rights and social justice in the midst of scarcity and political uncertainty is admirable. Doug, my incredible partner, has read all my papers and writings during my Ph.D. Thanks to his insistence that anyone should be able to understand what I am saying, I am a better writer -even if I still abuse the use of the comma. Thank you for never asking how vi is my dissertation going, for many times having much more confidence in my abilities than me, for your endless support and for our two wonderful fluffy and soft kitties. I love you. My parents and sister have always supported and been proud of me. My dad determined my early interest in politics. I am forever grateful to him because his love of reading and learning pushed me in the direction of academia. My sister has always been my best friend and companion. I am incredibly fortunate and grateful for having you in my life and miss you every day. My mom was the first feminist in my life. She does not know the meaning of the word ‘impossible’ and has made everything in her capacity to make my dreams come true. ~~~ Mis padres y hermana siempre me han apoyado y han estado orgullosos de mí. A mi papá le debo mi interés en la política. Siempre estaré agradecida con el porque me contagió su amor por la lectura y por aprender, lo que inevitablemente encaminó mi vida hacia la academia. Mi hermana siempre ha sido y será mi mejor amiga y compañera incondicional. Soy increíblemente afortunada por tenerte en mi vida y te extraño todos los días. Mi mamá fue la primera feminista de mi vida. Ella no conoce el significado de la palabra “imposible” y ha hecho todo lo que está a su alcance para que mis sueños se hagan realidad.