Types
of Violence
Violence is
defined by the World Health Organization as “the intentional use of physical
force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or
against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood
of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development or
deprivation”. There are various types of
violence which can be classified as:
Ø Physical/Direct
Ø Structural
Ø Mental/Psychological/Emotional
Ø Sexual
Ø Subtle
Ø Spiritual
Since the
meaning of physical/direct violence is
obvious enough, we may only explain, in brief, its other kinds. War is physical violence at
its worst, which will be explained later.
Structural
violence means
neglect, discrimination and exploitation that is inbuilt in certain economic and
social structures. For instance, factory workers and laborers in Third World countries are paid much lower
wages than their counterparts in the First World. Thus, a soft toy or lingerie
carrying the tag, ‘Made in Korea’ or ‘Made in China’ is priced at one third of
a toy or lingerie of similar quality carrying the tag, ‘Made in Sweden’ or
‘Made in France’.
Another
example of structural violence is patriarchy. It is manifest in very simple
matters too: Let’s say a family returns home tired and thirsty after a hectic
outing. Everyone wants water. However, routinely, the father will be offered
the first glass of water ----perhaps by the mother who will quench her thirst
last!
There is an amusing and unsuspected kind of structural violence to
which Indian women are not infrequently subject. A housewife in a big family
may be deprived of a delicious dish simply because the male members were served
first and greedily asked for more helpings, so that none of the delicacy in
question was left for the lady, who is supposed to eat after men have eaten
their fill!
Mental violence refers to psychological and
emotional harassment, torture and its equivalents. A very clear instance of mental violence is
provided by what can easily happen in Indian society. A young Indian bride may
be made to feel inferior simply because her complexion is dark or when she is
repeatedly taunted by her in-laws on the ground that her parents have not
provided adequate dowry.
Sexual violence violates the sanctity of the
victim. Rape would be an extreme form of this violence.
An example of subtle
violence can be seen at the way some International Conferences are
planned. Women speakers are frequently
given time slots only in the afternoons or towards the fag end of a session,
when attendance gets thinned or participants feel tired and so are no longer
eager to listen closely.
An even more unnoticed form of violence is that which may be
called spiritual. By this kind of
violence I mean an overemphasis on the human being’s material interests as
against his spiritual welfare. When educational systems or parenting focus on
developing the body and mind but neglect the spirit, it can be classified as
spiritual violence. I call this attitude violence because it injures the
totality of man’s being. Such imbalance in upbringing of the young prompts them
to take to unduly materialistic life styles, consumerism and extreme
individualism which naturally harm interpersonal relationships, and cause
loneliness, depression, divorce and various psychic ailments. The cost of
indifference to our spiritual interests is indeed very heavy.
Illustration
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