Infância violada: Estudo de reportagens veiculadas na imprensa sobre a menina vítima de estupro e consequente aborto legal

Abstract

Introduction: Girls have been victims of violence, especially sexual ones. Childhood can be violated in several ways, such as the case that occurred in Brazil in 2020. Qualitative research can elucidate the phenomenon by making it possible to deepen the complex issues related to sexual violence against girls that result in pregnancy and legal abortion. Objectives: To highlight the qualitative investigative path used to decode the case of the girl victim of rape perpetrated by a relative, which resulted in pregnancy, and whose legal outcome of abortion. Method: Documentary study with a qualitative approach. The data sources were two Brazilian newspapers in electronic format. The data collection period was from August to October 2020. The data was organized using a semi-structured instrument. Reports on the subject of the study were included, and those that only cited the case were excluded, without exploring its triggers. For thematic content analysis, the webQDA software was used. The analytical categories were gender and generation. Results: Subsequent to the analysis, the 78 selected reports showed three empirical categories: 1) the wide-open subordination; 2) the process for carrying out abortion; and 3) criminalization versus legalization of abortion. The qualitative methodology supported by webQDA allowed to expose what was not shown at first sight: the existence of a profound subordination of gender and generation, when the protagonist, the girl, suffered different new violence - institutional ones - that contradict what the Statute of the Child and Adolescent determines. Conclusions: The methodological path adopted allowed us to look beyond the situation experienced by the girl - rape, pregnancy and abortion - before turning 12 years old. The manipulation of leaders and authorities was emphasized, imposing their personal convictions, instead of guaranteeing the victim s rights.