The present essay tries to understand the dynamics of domestic violence from the three following angles: masculinity, identity and power relationships as socio-cultural expressions. The first two are approaches to masculinity as a culture construct, its relationship with the process of culture identities and the exercise of violence against the intimate partner as a mechanism of cohesion. The third angle is based upon Bourdieu’s (2000) concept of power and domination, in dialogue with Ramirez's explanatory proposal of power relationships (2005), to finally criticize the approach of the victim / aggressor dichotomy from changes within the gender relationships where the role of men and women take new nuances. From the analysis of these components we reflect on the phenomenon of intimate violence as part of a relational process within globalization's growth, in which both men and women are capable of transcending the “social destiny” by contributing to their generic practices new meanings for its overcoming.