Abstract

PEREZ GOMEZ, Augusto  and  CORREA MUNOZ, Marcela. Feminine identityand drug use: qualitative research. liber. [online]. 2011, vol.17, n.2, pp.211-222. ISSN 1729-4827.

This study examines the relationship between feminine identity and drug use. Seventy-six women in three ages groups (young, young adults, and mature adults), in three socio-economic levels (upper, medium, low) and three drug use conditions (non users, users and ex users) were interviewed on six aspects: definition of being a woman; and difference with being a male, women’s self-evaluation, factors influencing the development of FI; FI and drug use; and risk and protective factors. The results showed that the interviewees think that most of the changes that occurred in West society have substantially improved women’s condition; nevertheless, some of those changes have also increased vulnerability and are associated with the notorious increase of drug abuse among women. Some of such factors are rarely mentioned in current studies on these issues (for instance, ‘bad use of freedom’, ‘lack of responsibility’, ‘sexual misbehaviour’) probably because authors are afraid of being accused of blaming women. In this study women’s perceptions are presented, rather than authors’ interpretations.

Keywords : Female identity; Drug abuse; Qualitative research.

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