El contraste como estrategia discursiva para minimizar la violencia contra la mujer en el contexto colmbiano

This study uses critical discourse analysis to research the ways in which an event of violence agaisnt women is legitimated in Colombia. Specifically, it examines the reactions of participants in eltiempo.com forums in relation to the sexual aggression committed by Víctor García and his four year sentence. In the analysis various prominent discursive structures and strategies are discovered which are used in the legitimation of violence against women in this context. This chapter focuses on explaining a strategy which manifests itself in a particular way in the forums about this case: contrasts with what is generally considered "violence" in Colombia. This contrast can be carried out through emphasis on another case or using other resources such as lexical choice, victim blaming, and ridicule. It is concluded that contrasts in this data are used to minimise the case of sexual aggression and seem to be closely linked with the Colombian context.