Service-Learning in Mexico: Solidary participation towards gender equity

Abstract

With a solidarity action goal, undergraduate students in the advanced level course PS3105 Clinical Psychology Applications were involved in an action research process on gender equity and to apply an intervention program for the empowerment of women. Method. Two researches were conducted involving 28 and 30 students, respectively. Study 1 was correlational, quantitative, cross-sectional, with adult women (N = 134) to assess the rate and severity of partner violence, empowerment, gender ideology and sexist attitudes. Study 2 was a one group pretest / posttest experimental research design (N = 64) aimed at empowering women through the development of a realistic and positive self-esteem in order to break the cycle of violence. Results. In Study 1 violence cases occur at a frequency of 28.6% and a severity of 29.3%. Women empowerment is associated with ambivalent sexism while gender ideology is related to sexist attitudes, but not with the severity of violence. After the intervention in Study 2, there was a statistically significant increase in participants’ self-esteem. Discussion. The students on the basis of scientific method studied situations related to their profession in an innovative and committed way, based on principles of social welfare, generating knowledge, and applying human intelligence to transform reality.