Woman, Money, and Domestic Violence

Even if a woman doesn't work outside the home, she still plays one of the most important roles in any country's economy. Caring for children-the generation of tomorrow-without being paid, doing housework and cooking-these essential chores keep our country, and every country, afloat. Women manage the small but special business that we know as Home, a job that requires her to know about finance, administration, management, education, and service. She must be a nutritionist and cook, nurse, advisor, psychologist, and an endless number of other professions.

But the most important role is the one that demands mental and physical balance so as not to lose one's mind with so many responsibilities in a position with so little remuneration. It's the control of herself, in order to carry out all the activities that fall to her gender and her position within the home, and what in traditional Costa Rican (and Latin American) household is generally considered to be the accepted responsibilities of the housewife, even if she may have a paying job outside the home.

But what happens when the roles change-when men are suddenly at home more, or when women become the primary breadwinners? These kinds of changes have been increasingly common in the past few years since the economic crisis. Though domestic violence has been a problem in Costa Rica for decades, studies have shown that tension and stress about household finances caused by unemployment or underemployment can result in domestic violence against women. Every year, there are more than 40,000 reports of domestic violence in Costa Rica. So far in 2010, a total of seven women have been killed by their partners or boyfriends.

The aim of my work is to reflect domestic violence by means of ordinary household objects.