“The crazy cat lady” or how to gaslight the feminine: a study on gender-based psychological violence

Abstract

This article conceptualizes gaslighting and its forms of action through theoretical framework and analysis of cultural and media products, demonstrating it as a social phenomenon originated within historically patriarchal societies, more specifically the western ones, and, therefore, dichotomous and binomial, which establish roles based on gender for all people. By not obeying this imposition of roles or normativity, as will be seen, the victim of the gaslight becomes abject. In this text, the abject can be observed by creating, through discourse, the character of “The Crazy Cat Lady”. We conclude, even if provisionally, that gaslighting and gender stereotypes intentionally distort relationships to ensure, reinforce and naturalize systems of power, such as sexism and heteronormativity, which relegates women (and why not say the most different forms of experience of the feminine identities) to constant violence and an eternal social silence.