2. a) Define structural violence using the readings and your insights.
b) Now briefly describe the problem you have chosen to address in your presentation. What role does structural violence play in that problem, both from national (within the country) and global (inter-country) points of view?
2) a) According to Weigert, K. M., (2008), structural violence, also called indirect violence, refers to preventable harm or damage to persons where there is no actor committing the violence and it is not practical to search for the actors. Additionally, Weingert (2008) states that "such violence emerges from the unequal distribution of power, or resources, and is said to be built into the structure" (2004). Structural violence occurs within many oppressed groups, and among those with health illness along with mental illnesses. Weingert also mentions that structural violence is seen as unintended harm done to individuals. Furthermore, structural violence determines who has to counseling, treatments and diagnostics (Castro & Farmer, 2005).
ReplyDeleteb) For my presentation I have chosen to address the issue of the stigma associated with mental illness. People with mental illness are often not looked at as functioning human beings and are often an oppressed group. Structural violence plays a role in this issue in that those with mental illness often do not have the same power or resources as those without illnesses. For instance, on a national level, those with mental illness are often not heard or listened to. The government just cut spending for mental health and most of the residential facilities where those with mental illness resided have closed. Also, many government funded agencies serving the mentally ill have had to close. Taking away these resources is an example of structural violence. On both a global and national level, the discrimination and stigmatization of the mentally ill is a human rights violation (Castro & Farmer, 2005). Moreover, such discrimination leaves them with no power. Moreover, structural violence generates the social inequalities in which stigma is invariably rooted (Castro & Farmer, 2005) on a global and national level. It is also the framework for understanding the stigma related to the mentally ill. All societies, both national and global points of view, are shaped by large scale forces that define structural violence. Such forces discriminate against, impoverish, and take away the power economics, and social equalities of the mental ill. Additionally, since structural violence has the upper hand in who gets counseling and treatment those with mental illness who are in a minority group are not going to get the services they need. Something needs to be done to end structural violence or violence, poverty, and inequality will never go away for those with mental illness whose human rights are ignored.
Part 1
ReplyDeleteStructural violence is defined by certain legal, economic, and bureaucratic structures, that by its nature supports a system that leads to the exploitation of individuals, not just in terms of economics, but also in their ability to and other forms of direct violence, and their working conditions (Galtung, 1969). The difference between particular acts of violence and structural violence is that particular acts of violence are perpetrated by individuals but structural violence is the way that a system of complex behaviors, rules, policies, etc. end up guaranteeing that there will be oppression (Sen, 1999).
Take the following scenario. Elizabeth lives in a developing country that has recently come out of a civil war. The country she lives in is undergoing economic development and the GNP is rising faster than any other country in its region. On a national level, the country continues to be in the top 10% of the world’s least developed countries even though it has a rising GNP. On an international level, the country is being noticed for its GNP by the economic indicators in world markets. This growth has the potential to give more freedoms to people like Elizabeth (Sen, 1999). However, from an international perspective the country is doing well, but nationally policies that empower structure violence are set in place.
In her city a large consumer chain is opening new stores. The corporation that owns the company wants to pay the workers in this country the wages they feel are equivalent in the other countries where they have their stores. The government on the other hand, is placing severe economic restrictions on the corporation stating, if they choose to pay them those wages the corporation will not be allowed to open stores in their country. The corporation is a large food chain and realizes the importance of having food options for these people. Instead the government sets the wages way below the standard the corporation pays its employees in other countries. The government eventually allows the corporation to open their stores and requires the difference in pay to their employees to be given to government authorities in this sector. The corporation has no choice but to abide by the edicts of the government in order for their products to be sold in the country and the people to improve the quality of their lives.
Elizabeth works 40/week and at the end of the month gets $380/month. The structural violence set in place in this country continues to oppress the workers and limits the quality of life. By limiting the workers wages it is difficult for Elizabeth to pay for her children’s education, purchase a home or a vehicle, or live out her dream of starting her own business. The corporation in order to maintain its presence in the country has to charge twice as much for its product as it does in neighboring countries where they have stores because of the heavy taxes placed on them by the government. This lack of freedom directly relates to the economic poverty of so many in the country (Sen, 1999).
Part 1 continued
ReplyDeleteIn order for structural violence to be reduced, political reforms must be set in motion. The international community that exploits the country where Elizabeth lives by making millions off its natural resources such as oil, diamonds, granite and other valuable products needs to leverage its influence through economic sanctions or other political means. The presence of these international “actors” could influence the development of individual freedom if they looked beyond the dividends of their investors and considered the quality of life of the people living in her country. The global integration of economy and politics has weakened rather than strengthened the economics (Siepel, 2003) in this country. As long as structural violence maintains a strong grip on the country where Elizabeth lives, poverty, education, health sectors and individual freedoms will be severely limited (Sen, 1999, Siepel, 2003). In Elizabeth’s country the social work profession is in the conceptual stage. The country is trying to establish sectors to help the majority of the population but the resistance it receives from the government continues to discourage many. The funds necessary for social work advances and empowerment get redirected or diverted into various personal funds. The disparity between the rich and poor in countries life this, with fast growing GNPs is a clear indicator that structural violence is alive and well.
a.)
ReplyDeleteBased off what we have read and discussed in class regarding what structural violence is and the awful effects it can have on members of society, the article entitled "Social representation of the individual: a post-Communist perspective" offered valuable information regarding these things. According to the article, “until 1989 the three Central European nations experienced a totalitarian regime and a totalitarian collectivism which rejected the basic values of individualism…” Specifically, the article indicates that “the general values of the common European heritage, i.e. personal uniqueness, freedom of choice, individual rights, were, for the duration of the Cold War, rejected as bourgeois anachronisms.” This is a great example of what structural violence is.
b.)
The problem that will be discussed in my group’s presentation is sex trafficking. This problem exists all throughout the globe and can affect people of all different ages, religions, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc. Structural violence plays many roles in this horrible problem.
From a national point of view, often times, girls/women are forced against their wills to be involved in the sex trafficking industry. They are forced to do things such as lose their virginity, have sex with multiple partners, be exposed to having sex with individuals who could have STIs, HIV, etc., be forced to be given drugs and sadly, they often lose their lives as a result of these things and from utter mistreatment, in general. Often times, victims of sex trafficking are not able to return to their homes and families and are forced into brutal enslavement to their pimps. Their basic needs are not met or cared for by whomever is forcing the enslavement upon them. Certain countries’ inhabitants are not given the opportunity to be made aware of the fact that sex trafficking is common in their country/region, which could place certain individuals (especially ones who are relatively uneducated, live in rural/remote areas, etc.) at a disadvantage when it comes to knowledge/education about the issue and ways to protect themselves from being victims of sex trafficking.
From a global point of view, a major role structural violence plays on victims of sex trafficking is that pimps have the ability to contribute to such a horrible industry. There should be more policies and laws put into place in order to prevent newcomers to the industry and to omit existing members from the industry. Existing members of the industry who are caught should be given proper punishment 100% of the time. Also, another important thing to consider is that certain countries’ governments and law enforcement officials are corrupt when it comes to various things, which could promote/contribute to this the type of activity. This could also allow the activity to continue.
a) Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm or otherwise disadvantage individuals. According to Galtung (1969) violence is defined as the cause of the difference between the potential and the actual. He refers to the type of violence where there is no such actor as “structural” or “indirect”. In both cases individuals might be killed or mutilated hit or hurt in both senses of these words. The violence is build into the structures and shows up as unequal power and consequently as unequal life chances. When one husband beats his wife there is a clear case of personal violence, but when one million husbands keep one million wives in ignorance there is a structural violence.
ReplyDeleteStructural violence is subtle, often invisible, and often has no one specific person who can (or will) be held responsible (in contrast to behavioral violence). Behavioral violence and structural violence can intertwine — some of the easiest examples of structural violence involve police, military, or other state powers committing violent acts; of course one can blame the individual soldier, but the factors that lead to a soldier killing a civilian are far more complex than that explanation would imply.
b)Referring our group work topic, that we will be discussed is about the “Domestic Violence”.Domestic violence occurs in all social, economic, religious and cultural groups. Domestic violence is a serious problem around the world. It violets the fundamental human rights of women and often results in serious injury or death. From a national point of view , domestic violence is a problem that negatively affects women and children, as well as families and communities . Albanians, however, tend to consider domestic violence to be a private, family matter and a normal part of married and family life. Because domestic violence often happens behind closed doors and is not openly discussed, acknowledged, or addressed in Albanian society, victims typically suffer in silence. Domestic violence emerged as an issue of concern in Albania in the 1990s when Albania was undergoing significant political and social change. In 1992, the Albanian Party of Labor, the communist party, surrendered power to a democratically-elected parliament. This significant political change opened Albania to foreign assistance, expertise, and investment as the country began the process of transitioning and reforming its economic, legal, and political structures. Although domestic violence existed long before this period of transition, incidences of domestic violence reportedly escalated in the 1990s as families experienced significant stresses and strains related to the transition (e.g., high unemployment rates, severe housing shortages, and escalating social unrest and violent street crimes). Domestic violence against women is not a new phenomenon in Albania; it has deep roots in the patriarchal traditions and customs (eg strict gender identities and roles, patriarchal authority, adherence to an honour and shame system and customs of hierarchal ordering with the family and intergenerational family control) that have long-shaped Albanian society. Forty years of communist rule in Albania (1946 – 1991) did not completely eradicate the deep-seated patriarchal attitudes, including those related to the kanun of Lek Dukagjini which was relevant in some regions of Albania. In fact, men and women in some part of Albania still reference the kanun to explain attitudes and opinions about gender roles and patriarchal authority, including the right of a man to ‘chastise’ his wife who is considered his property. (The Kanun has 1,262 articles which regulate all aspects of the mountainous life: economic organization of the household, hospitality, brotherhood, clan, boundaries, work, marriage, land, and so on)
a) Structural violence refers to a form of violence where some social structure or social institution may harm people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. Structural violence affects people differently in various social structures, it is very closely linked to social injustice. Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm or otherwise disadvantage individuals. Structural violence is subtle, often invisible, and often has no one specific person who can (or will) be held responsible (in contrast to behavioral violence). Structural violence it is created by social stuctures, how it is organize social services and other services. A great example could be human trafficking, poverty, health services (odontology in Lithuania) and so on.
ReplyDeleteb) My topic is “Prevention of family divorce”. In Europe Lithuania is on one of the highest number of families who is divorced. From 100 families 57 families is divorced in Lithuania. So I think it is a real issue. It is really interesting for me how people understand marriage, family and life in family, what life they have before marriage, what their values and beliefs and ect. Also I think that is not just Lithuanian’s problem but it is global challenge. In some countries the age of marriage is younger than in others. Western families have 1-3 children, South (Muslim) countries more than 3. Poor families also have more children than rich families. And I think that structural violence plays a great role in family divorce. I think it is closely related with education – people (families) do not understand natural process which is happening in a family, partners do not understand their diferencies, they have lack of communication, conflict solving and other skills. Who helps families to understand things which is happening in a family? What social institutions (social services) helps for families? Mosly they left alone to solve their own problems. Sometimes it seems that is not societies problem but families problem. In Lithuania practically there is no prevention of family divorce. This issue is left maybe be to church and sure to court. And also I think that people are consumers, they do not want to give they want just to take. That is a problem. They do not have might be energy to cooperate, to discuss, to share, to try new things for the family. Also secular values plays a great role too. People do not have certain values which keep family moving forward. Family member do not take responsibility to each other for some reasons, they are not use to search for formal help, they feel stigmatized. There are a lot of styreotypes in the society.
Ruta Gerasime
2. a) In my opinion, structural violence is various types of violence and it shows itself in society structure. Such type of violence could be women’s unequal right’s with men’s. Other violence form could be some society groups oppression against other groups. According to Wong & Tsang (2004), Asian women’s social roles related to domesticity, while their roles in public, economic, and political life are usually played down. In Asia, women’s who try to be independent, to have work, to get education usually are neglected. Global social work mission is to ensure human right, and where these rights are ignored, there is structural violence examples.
ReplyDeleteb) I have chosen to do my presentation about divorce prevention. Nowadays, a number of divorces are increasing, there is one good expression: “ In old times broken things people tried to fix, now they them just throw out”. So, my mission is to try to fix people relationships and prevent divorces. In my point of view, structural violence in this case could be negative society attitudes to divorced families. It is believed, that divorced families are in bigger risk to experience social exclusion. Also, children from divorced families are touched by structural violence, they don’t have full family model. It is difficult to say how this type of structural violence are acceptable globally. In some cultures to get divorce is unacceptable, but in others to get divorced is nothing wrong. Locally, this type of violence is big problem, because half married families get divorced
Egle Vosyliute
a) Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm or otherwise disadvantage individuals. Structural violence is subtle, often invisible, and often has no one specific person who can be held responsible. Structural violence affects people differently in various social structures, it is very closely linked to social injustice. Structural violence is usually carried out through appropriate policies, people who have power are profited from others with less political power. Structural Violence is when a country or any governing system denies people basic human rights due to inequalities embedded within the system. According to Castro and Farmer, structural violence can be demonstrated through classism, sexism, racism, and etc. “ social inequalities that are rooted in historical and economic processes” (2005). Also Structural violence is both intentional and unintentional. Those with power and money have more opportunity and possibility to grow and thrive. Structural violence is hidden form of social policy power against ordinary society member.
ReplyDeleteb) My presentation topic: parents of children with autism spectrum disorder experiences. The biggest problem faced by the parents, that society very difficult to tolerate parents and children with this disorder. Of the studies conducted observed that 63.5 %. people believe that the situation of disabled people in Lithuania are not good, and 26.1 %. people argue that the disability rights defense in society over the last 10 years has not changed (Dobryninas A., Gaidys V., 2003). Due a society formed negative attitude to people with disabilities, often for all the family members are "adhesive label", they are seen not only compassion, but also with fear, distrust or even derision (Ruškus J., 2001; 2002). Parents raising a child with an autistic disorder are faced not only with the negative of society view, but also with the lack of institutions providing services. Lithuania is still not only assistance provided autistic children. Still remained post-Soviet institutions that all children with disabilities to keep in one center. Not being given enough services children and parents. Childresn with autism spectrum disorder require special care. Also confronted with problem that parents living in a small village not allow your child to a larger institution in the town, because they are not belong to district and the children accept no one can. So, in this case the parents don‘t get help.
Another problem not only in Lithuania, but also in other countries is that parents who have children with autism disorder refuses to work, studys because they have to take care of a child. In the family, which is a special needs child is confronted with high costs, because a disabled child requires not only high-quality primary care, but requires multifaceted specialized health care for a long time. The increased family financial costs, are limited families' social networks and their participation in community life. (Butkevičienės R., Majerienės N., 2006; Reichman N. E., Corman H., Noonan K. , 2008).
a) Structural violence is violence that occurs by way of imbedded and institutionalized practices. In their article “Understanding and Addressing AIDS Related Stigma: From Anthropological Theory to Clinical Practice in Haiti” Castro and Farmer (2005), we learn that widespread, historical, and accepted racism, sexism, and poverty work to keep AIDS stigma intact. In the US, drug laws provide a good example of structural violence. The harsh penalties for non-violent drug offenses disproportionately affect communities of color, and further decimate these communities by creating more single parent families, contributing to a number of citizens who cannot find work due to a past conviction, and adds to the general instability of an area. Weigert, K. M., (2008) also calls structural violence “indirect violence,” and rightly observes that "such violence emerges from the unequal distribution of power, or resources, and is said to be built into the structure.”
ReplyDeleteb) The problem I am tackling is the lack of competent healthcare for women who have experienced female genital cutting, or FGC. The practice of FGC is clearly a violence against women, and this is most definitely structural. This practice has been in place for generations, and continues in many areas without much thought to the outcomes of the procedure. This violence resides in the religious structures that suggest the only way to be pure and moral is to undergo FGC, and the notion all over the world that female sexuality is to be controlled. It is also perpetuated by the lack of accurate medical information reaching these communities. This becomes an international issue not just because it happens in many different countries, but because women are now immigrating to the West. Westerners have now had to confront this issue, and decide what to do about it. I recall that not even a decade ago, Western feminists were hesitant to even talk about the practice, as we did not want to commit the other structural violence of passing judgment on other cultures, merely because they are different than our own. However, over the years, more African women have come out against their own FGC, and Western women have felt welcomed to join the conversation and openly say that FGC is not right. This happened in the UK first, and the US is still largely silent on this issue in any meaningful way. However, refugee women are coming into the US and they need medical care. Most doctors here have not seen FGC before, and often they are made to guess at the best way to handle a woman in labor, for example, who has experienced FGC. We hear reports from our clients that doctors will bring in a team of medical students to observe a gynecological exam of a woman with FGC, as they have never seen it. While I support doctors learning about FGC, and in fact wish more knew about it, doctors do not understand that many refugee women are so vulnerable and disenfranchised, they are not aware that they can deny permission to these medical students if they do not feel comfortable. This, too, is structural. For a woman who covers her hair in the presence of anyone but her family, can you imagine how it feels to be naked in stirrups, and have a team of people, mostly men, gawking? This experience can be more traumatic than the FGC—FGC is understood as a rite of passage, and happens surrounded by women from your family. My project will work to compile a list of any physicians in the Chicagoland area who have actual evidence-based practice with FGC. Secondly, we will develop training seminars for doctors in cultural competency around this issue.
a) Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm or otherwise disadvantage individuals. Structural violence is subtle, often invisible, and often has no one specific person who can (or will) be held responsible (in contrast to behavioral violence). I also hold that behavioral violence and structural violence can intertwine — some of the easiest examples of structural violence involve police, military, or other state powers committing violent acts. One key aspect of structural violence is that it is often hard to see. Even more difficult than identifying structural violence is assigning culpability.
ReplyDeleteb) I will do my presentation about families, after domestic violence, how children and parents should built their new relationships between each other, even after family child abuse. Children in all societies have the least voice, power, and control over their own lives, and as such, are extremely vulnerable to abuses in power relationships. When poverty is introduced into the equation, the results are often disastrous. There is some kind of risk factors for child abuse and neglect. While child abuse and neglect occurs in all types of families—even in those that look happy from the outside—children are at a much greater risk in certain situations.
Domestic violence. Witnessing domestic violence is terrifying to children and emotionally abusive. Even if the mother does her best to protect her children and keeps them from being physically abused, the situation is still extremely damaging. If you or a loved one is in an abusive relationships, getting out is the best thing for protecting the children.
Alcohol and drug abuse. Living with an alcoholic or addict is very difficult for children and can easily lead to abuse and neglect. Parents who are drunk or high are unable to care for their children, make good parenting decisions, and control often-dangerous impulses. Substance abuse also commonly leads to physical abuse.
Untreated mental illness. Parents who suffering from depression, an anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, or another mental illness have trouble taking care of themselves, much less their children. A mentally ill or traumatized parent may be distant and withdrawn from his or her children, or quick to anger without understanding why. Treatment for the caregiver means better care for the children.
Lack of parenting skills. Some caregivers never learned the skills necessary for good parenting. Teen parents, for example, might have unrealistic expectations about how much care babies and small children need. Or parents who were themselves victims of child abuse may only know how to raise their children the way they were raised. In such cases, parenting classes, therapy, and caregiver support groups are great resources for learning better parenting skills.
Stress and lack of support. Parenting can be a very time-intensive, difficult job, especially if you’re raising children without support from family, friends, or the community or you’re dealing with relationship problems or financial difficulties. Caring for a child with a disability, special needs, or difficult behaviors is also a challenge. It’s important to get the support you need, so you are emotionally and physically able to support your child.
Moreover, there is a different types of violence, like physical, psychological, sexual abuse forms, but about it I will present in my presentation.
Roberta Lazauskaite
I appreciate how you are looking at how children and mothers cope after domestic violence. I work in a high school and middle school and have several students who have recently fled with their mother from domestically abusive homes. Sometimes we forget that even after one lives domestic abuse there are still so many problems that have to be dealt with. One of the big issues I see with students is getting their basics needs met. As a social worker I will often try to find resources such as clothing, food, and at times working with the family to find housing. It is important as a social worker working with families of domestic abuse to acknowledge the bravery of them leaving, but then getting them the assistance they need to so they are not forced to return to the domestic abuse.
DeleteJennifer Niendorf
A) As I understand stuctural violence, he can but the political , economic, but not a direct threat to human . Perpetrator is not direct , they may be many, and not necessarily directly pointing to one another . For example : policy illegal take people's money. This is the whole of society indirect political violence . It has been planned in advance . Just as happened with the occupation of Lithuania . It is also an example of structural violence .
ReplyDeleteB ) My topic is about children who have autism spectrum disorder. Our society ( Lithuania ) , people with disabilities are discriminated, they have “labels”. Their sort of fear , trying to distance himself . There are special schools for that kinds of children , but then they are excluded from society , not being full . More broadly , outside of Lithuania , the children get the opportunity to integrate, they are studying in the same school with normal children. Of course , these children also need special care, but schools with healthy children, they do not feel any different. As far as possibly an communicate , learn , albeit under a special program .
a) Structural violence, a term coined by Johan Galtung and by liberation theologians during the 1960s, describes social structures—economic, political, legal, religious, and cultural— that stop individuals, groups, and societies from reaching their full potential. Structural violence exists when some groups, classes, genders, nationalities, etc are assumed to have, and in fact do have, more access to goods, resources, and opportunities than other groups, classes, genders, nationalities, etc, and this unequal advantage is built into the very social, political and economic systems that govern societies, states and the world.
ReplyDeleteb) In my presentation I have chosen to discuss and to present family reunification after violence or abuse in the family. Firstly, I would like to represent the situation in Lithuania of family reunification after violence or abuse in the family. Lithuania department of statistics shows that in 2012 in Lithuania were 10389 social risk families (this term is in Lithuania laws). 2055 children from these families lost parent care in 2012. Because of the abuse and violence in the family 517 lost their parent care. In the same year 1152 children came back to their biological families. There is no statistics how many children were reunified with their families after abuse of violence. It is a big problem in Lithuania speaking about reunification with birth family. In this case we can see a lot of structural violence. Many children are in children care institutions and just a few has a foster-parents because there is another problem, we can see a lack of professional foster-parents and this is because they don’t get enough help and support from social workers and children rights institutions. These people try to help the children but the financial and psychological support is not yet developed. For example, when children are in children care institutions State child support gives from 1500 - 2000 to 3000 thousand litas, the amount varies depending on the situation. When a child being cared in the foster family, the state appointed by the retention of 520 litas. Foster families, children can’t get free meals and other benefits, but if they are taken into care institutions receive all the benefits. Is not that the structural violence? In terms of support for the biological family, it is much less than that which is paid to the children living with a foster family. However, a lot of families in Lithuania are close to the poverty line or in deep poverty. It is the problem of poverty is directly related to alcoholism, violence and abuse in families. That and unfortunately, it is often due to poverty children are in foster homes, despite the fact that it is huge and any violation of children's rights and the laws that do not allow. Social care system in this case has a lot of lacks and it doesn’t seem it is changing in to a good side. Political structures put a lot of money in child care institutions and just a little money are spend on helping families to deal with the issues they are facing. If the family doesn’t get enough help the children can’t come back to their homes and families.
Looking to this problem from global perspective I think in every country there are cases of child abuse and violence and the practices of family reunification after violence and abuse are different. This problem is global and happens all over the world. Jurisdictions all over the world have developed specialized programs to bring child welfare, substance abuse, and court services together to support reunification. As a global social worker I think it becomes really important to know a global context of this problem, other countries practice and look for what could be used in our country in order to make the process of reunification less problematic and more efficient. Global context of this problem (situation) in Lithuania is not overlooked enough. Comparing Lithuania with other countries helps us to see the lacks of our care system and again as I have mentioned before we can see a lot of structural violence, but it is not only in Lithuania, it happens in other countries too.
ReplyDelete(A)
ReplyDeleteAccording to Weigert, structural violence is harm or damage that a person experiences as a result of something other than an actor (2008). Violence includes the threat of harm, the use of force to cause harm, and harm created by an unequal distribution of power and resources (Wiegert, 2008). Although humans create the sources of structural violence, it is not possible to pinpoint the perpetrator in structural violence. Social norms and patterns, laws and regulations, and discriminatory attitudes can cause structural violence. For example, in the neighborhood in which I live on the south side of Chicago, there is limited access to fresh food, healthy restaurants, quality health services, bike lanes, safe schools, and entertainment venues, and each of these limitations causes harm to those in the neighborhood without having an individual actor who is responsible.
(B)
For my final project, I am looking at dehumanization in prison or judiciary systems. A central value to the field of social work is respect for the worth and dignity of the human person. Social workers respect human dignity by promoting self-determination in clients, empowering clients to meet their needs, and helping to resolve conflicts between the client's interests and those of the broader society (NASW Code, 2008). I will look at instances in which the dignity and worth of people in prison is not respected and offer suggestions for better respecting the dignity and worth of this group of people.
In the United States, structural violence affects the demographic makeup of those in prison, as there are higher arrest and incarceration rates for people of color than whites, for men than women, and for the poor than affluent. Structural violence decreases the likelihood that those who are incarcerated will be able to reintegrate into the community, as the current system does not provide viable alternatives to criminal activity and often leads instead to recidivism. Structural violence allows for harsh sentencing, such as the death penalty or solitary confinement. The structure of the US criminal justice system as well as the prevalent punitive culture in the US can hurt victims and their families as well. A father not wanting the death penalty for his daughter's murderer, for instance, could suffer from pressure to seek revenge.
These forms of structural violence contribute to prison systems from a global point of view as well. Discrimination, recidivism, harsh sentencing, and pressure to seek revenge are issues that exist across national borders. From a global perspective, there are additional forms of structural violence concerning the migration and the status and rights of migrants in their host countries. For example, immigrants and international travelers, if arrested, are sometimes denied basic rights because they are not citizens of the host country.
A.) According to Kathleen Weigert, structural violence can be defined as, “preventable harm or damage to persons..where there is no actor committing the violence or where it is not practical to search for the actor(s); such violence emerges from the unequal distribution of power and resources” (Weigert, 2008). This definition of structural violence provokes many key concepts, most of which relate to injustice and disparity. Structural violence (sometimes referred to as institutionalized violence) is so very broad and far-reaching that an end to or solution to this problem may seem unfathomable. Fundamental examples of structural violence/institutionalized violence include racism, sexism, and classism. These forms of oppression are ingrained in American society (and throughout societies around the world) yet they can (and should) be challenged and altered.
ReplyDeleteB.) My presentation will focus on various treatment modalities for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) on a global perspective. I hope to discuss new and alternative therapeutic treatments that are being utilized with adults with ASD in different regions of the world. According to Lauren Bishop-Fitzpatrick, 1 in 88 children are affected by ASD; this statistic indicates that the number of adults with ASD will increase significantly in coming years (2012). Little research has been conducted regarding treatment for adults with ASD. In the United States, many treatment options are first accessed for children with ASD through the school system; when these children age out of the school system , the options for individuals and families are very limited.
One of the greatest factors when it comes to treatment options for ASD relates to the pure cost of such treatments. The estimated average lifetime per capita cost of autism is $3.2 million (Fitzpatrick et al, 2012). The financial prerequisites for individuals to receive proper treatment and care are a form of structural violence. Within the U.S., treatment for ASD has begun to be covered by many insurance plans (including Medicaid). While this is a significant gain to provide services to those who may be in jeopardy of falling through the cracks, there are many other individuals (particularly adults with ASD) who may remain victims of structural violence through classism. These financial demands are present throughout the world. While the U.S. has an educational system which provides significant support and opportunity through entitlement programs, many regions around the world do not have these “luxuries” built in to their education systems. Treatment for ASD in both adults and children may be very limited in certain countries due to a variety of factors, including lack of understanding and stigma related to ASD. Additionally, individuals may live in areas which are somewhat isolated from any feasible treatment options. On the other hand, factors such as universal health care in certain countries have proven to be a beneficial component; such policies allow for many more individuals to receive treatment for ASD as well as other comorbities that are often associated with ASD.
Overall, structural violence in the form of classism can severely impact and limit the treatment opportunities for individuals with ASD (particularly adults). Ageism can also be a form of structural violence which may affect this specific population throughout the world. There is no doubt that more research must be conducted to provide adequate services for adults with ASD; this additional research may also assist in bringing about structural changes in approaches to this population.
Shannon Dooley
a) “Structural violence (also called indirect violence and, sometimes, institutionalized violence) is differentiated from personal violence (also called direct or behavioral) and refers to preventable harm or damage to persons (and by extension to things) where there is no actor committing the violence or where it is not practical to search for the actor(s)” (Weigert, 2007). Structural violence emerges from things such as unequal distribution of wealth or resources. There is not a direct person committing the violence, but as a result of systems and societal structures there is harm done to others. An imbalance of power, for example, will leave members of society at a lower position than others, often with less opportunity for advancement and less resources available. This hinders their ability to better their situation and can lead to major mental and physical repercussions. There is not one particular individual imposing acts upon another, but a system that is influenced by society that imposes hardships onto a certain sector.
ReplyDeleteb)My group and I have chosen to address the global problem of human sex trafficking. Human sex trafficking occurs when a person is trafficked across borders for the purpose of prostitution and participation in the sex industry. This occurs around the world and is particularly prominent amongst vulnerable cultures. Structural violence sets up systems in which these oppressed individuals become more vulnerable or are left with few or no other economic options. As a result of poor education or lack of economic opportunities many become the victims of sex trafficking in order to support themselves and then become trapped within the system.
Structural violence is illustrated here in the form of unequal distribution of resources (Weigert, 2007). In societies where populations that are vulnerable to sex trafficking are often found there is an unequal distribution of power and resources; this leaves individuals without ways to provide for themselves in society. When there are no options for economic success many young girls will take any option to help make money for their family, including prostitution but often without the knowledge of the situation they are getting themselves into (Kristof, 2010). Once the girl has agreed to take a job to support her family they are often sold from one brothel to another or kept as a sex slave by the person who offered them the job in the first place. As seen in Half the Sky, the girls become powerless to escape the traffickers, who often threaten their families or the girls themselves.
Another way structural violence contributes to the progression of trafficking is in the oppression of girls acquiring education. As has been discussed in class, education is key in reducing poverty and economic injustice by harnessing girls’ potential. Many young girls are trafficked as a result of a lack of education. The girls do not have an education that would provide them with other economic opportunities.
. According to Weigert, K. M., (2008) states that "such violence emerges from the unequal distribution of power, or resources, and is said to be built into the structure." Based off of some of our class discussions, the structural violence is multi-faceted problem because it’s so difficult to pinpoint who the perpetrator is. It’s ingrained into a society as a norm.
ReplyDeleteB. The problem my group and I have chosen is family reunification after abuse. Specifically, I would like to speak about sexual abuse with female in India and as well as globally.
i. The role of structural violence from a national point of view is women are often seen as weaker or as second class citizens; this especially true for a country that still upholds a social standing system (the caste system). Often times, women who experience this type of violence are from rural villages or a lower caste. After act like rape, many women are seen as “unclean” or “impure.” There are several different examples I will display in my presentation.
ii. The role of structural violence from a global point of view is that rape is, unfortunately, a common thing that happens in our world. It points back to gender inequality that women face in today’s world. Not only how rape and sexual violence is perceived but also how the families affected deal with it.
A) Structural violence is a subtle yet very powerful and oppressive form of violence. It is embedded into political and cultural spheres, and is perpetuated by society as a whole. Kathleen Maas Weigert (1990) discusses structural violence as preventable and not being committed by any single person. She states that it derives from the unequal distribution of power and resources. (Maas Weigert, 1990). Galtung states that people are indirectly influenced by this type of violence, resulting in unequal life changes (Galtung, 1969, as cited in Maas Weigert, 1990). While it is true that structural violence differs from direct violence in that it is not one person who commits a violent act against another, structural violence does occur at the mezzo and micro levels in communities and within families through the manifestation of oppressive cultural norms.
ReplyDeleteB) Our presentation will be on family reunification after traumatic events, specifically women who have experienced rape and/or prostitution. We will focus on cultures that do not accept women back into the family unit due to shame they bring upon the family.
This topic provides a perfect illustration of how cultural structural violence negatively effects the individual. The cultures of these societies dictate that families should shun these “shameful” women from their family because the family structure would be compromised by their presence. These beliefs and practices are built into the moral fabric of such societies and have been set in place by people in power. Often times, people in power are afraid of widespread acceptance of these “shameful” acts, fearing an out-of-control society. To combat this fear, they enforce laws, both written and unwritten, to maintain control. One, among many, of the problems that arise from this pattern is that women are rarely at fault for the shameful things done to them. They experience direct violence at the hands of people who have power over them, namely (but not exclusively) men, and do not receive any sort of justice or recompense due to the indirect violence inherent in the social structure.
Then, when these women flee their countries of origin in search of a meaningful existence elsewhere, they already have demerits against them for many reasons including the fact that they are female and that they are a foreigner of the new region. These women are abandoned by the international community because often times they do not have a community to which they belong. Rather than embracing people of other nations, people reject foreigners because of innate assumptions about them, which also illustrates another specific form of structural violence: racism and ethnocentrism. All of this is a roundabout way to show how the interconnected web of direct and indirect violence influences the lives of marginalized individuals.
In speaking of women’s rights it is important to recognize the disadvantage that women have always faced which led the United Nations to help in this global problem. Gallagher (2005) states
ReplyDeleteThe 1946 Commission on Human Rights and the 1947 Commission on the Status of Women worked in isolation from one another and had little clout. Subsequent human rights conventions specific to women, such as the Convention on the Nationality of Married Women (1957) and the Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1962) focused on women's rights in their traditional roles in society. The 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights called for equal protection of men and women. All these conventions dealt with the public sphere, because the international consensus held that the family is private and out of the reach of the government. This significantly disadvantaged women because much violence against women occurs in the home. Political leaders argued that the status of women derived from cultural and social traditions that were outside its purview. The human rights conventions also tended to ignore social and economic rights (p. 97).
Perhaps the most poignant phrase in this statement is “the international consensus held that the family is private and out of the reach of the government. This significantly disadvantaged women because much violence against women occurs in the home” (Gallagher, 2005, p.97). This statement shows that the disadvantage of women is a global problem with the international consensus being that the family is private. The problem is then stated in that much of the violence occurs in the home. If we are not educating women to be able to take a stand for what is right and wrong we, as women, will continue to suffer at a much greater disadvantage then men. Though several societies’ governments have taken the issue to empowering women and defending women’s rights there is still a sufficient amount of women globally that are disempowered and undereducated. By not educating women we are choosing to decrease economic growth. As SOLA (n.d.) states on their website, “research shows that investing in women significantly increases economic growth in both developed and developing countries” (para. 5).
The example of this young girl represents the global inequality of women through her inability to function in the classroom which impacts her inability to achieve greater success and to fully comprehend the material she is learning. All of this puts her at great risk for not having the knowledge to achieve success. This in turn impacts her ability to rise above the current inequality standard of women globally.
In working with a culture that is completely different than the one I grew up in it would be important that I recognize and educate myself on the behaviors/culture of the society in which I am working. In the case of working with this 10-year-old girl I must realize that each day the girl is risking something far greater than her education. She is risking her life. Not only is this a risk factor for these women but they are also coming from a completely different educational system. It was stated on the Sola’s website that asking questions is discouraged and that women take a back seat to the men in their society. By not being able to ask questions and never being able to be considered equal with other members of society complacency becomes embedded in the mindset of the individual. Thus, I believe it would be important for me to listen to her and to have her educate me on her culture so that we could create a way to work together thus helping her to feel empowered. Through empowering her I hope that she will be able to recognize Sola as a safe place where she can freely express her opinions and speak up in class. I don’t feel that I could help her effectively without an education myself of understanding her culture and gaining her trust.
ReplyDeleteb) Evaluate what problems might be affecting the girl’s learning and behavior (family, community, for instance) and how you might help her and her family.
According to the Sola website we can see that some of the problems and risk factors affecting these young women are: ethnic tension, underdeveloped curriculum, exclusion of women, and lack of leadership. These four areas are broadened out to the family in which the child comes from. The family may be of a different ethnicity and have a great inability to grow due solely to the targeted population for community violence, arrests, discrimination, etc. As stated in t the Garbarino and Kostelny (1996) article, “the number of risk factors a child experienced was significantly related to the amount of behavioral problems that child manifested. As the number of risks related to political violence and family negativity increased, the level of child symptomology also increased significantly” (p. 41). This 10-year-old girl may be an ethnic minority in her community. She is female. She is young. She may come from a city where she has been literally face-to-face with war. Her father may be imprisoned to which Garbario and Kostelny (1996) state, “the arrest of a family member has important implications for family functioning as well as the family structure, especially if the arrest was of the child’s father…these experiences of political violence have indicated high levels of stress, trauma, and psychological difficulties among Palestinian children” (p. 35).
In recognizing the community and environment in which the family comes from it is important that I recognize the cultural differences that impact their ability to function within that community. I would also need to recognize the political unrest that this child might have had to deal with her entire life and work with the effects of a war-torn society helping the family to overcome symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and helping not only this young girl rebuild her life but her family as well. I would most likely begin by addressing the discrimination that they have all suffered over an extended period of time and then help them to cope with these situations by giving them the tools that would empower them within their community through various therapeutic techniques such as homework assignments.
2. a) Define structural violence using the readings and your insights.
ReplyDeleteStructural violence is defined as the unequal distribution of power or resources that are a part of the structure (Weigert, 2006) In structural violence people are not being harmed by any one individually, but rather within the structure that they live. It becomes structural violence when it occurs on a large scale in a society and is preventable (Weigert, 2006). Meaning that if it is occurring in a strong majority of the society that it has become part of the cultures structure and has become violent.
b) Now briefly describe the problem you have chosen to address in your presentation. What role does structural violence play in that problem, both from national (within the country) and global (inter-country) points of view?
For my presentation I am examining how school social work is completed in a global context. Structural violence plays a major role in our schools here in the United States. In the Chicago land area the discrepancies amongst the schools is widely apparent. Students that attend schools in low-income, minority areas, with low graduation rates are looked down upon. I feel as though we dehumanize this group of students by saying, “It doesn’t matter what they do. They are never going to go anywhere except prison.” For many students in this system that may be true, but as a society I feel that we generalize this group of students. We allocate very little resources to these schools and they lack the necessary resources to gain a proper education. With No Child Left Behind it has particularly hurt inner city schools. NCLB takes away funding from schools that perform poorly on state wide testing, but then it puts these schools in an even greater hole and makes it difficult to gives these students the resources they need.
Often times these students leave school and go home to poor environments that are riddled with violence and turmoil. Then the students come to school hungry, tired, and in no state of mind to begin the learning process. As schools shouldn’t we be working towards getting these students the help they need to function at school? According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs if your most basic needs are not met how are you expected to focus on the next level? Students that are not even getting their basic needs met are not concerned about learning. There should be programs and funding to try to change the environment in which these students are coming from. If we can’t fix this problem at its structure then it will not change.
Jennifer Niendorf
a) Structural violence is indirect violence (Weigert, 2008) caused by the lack of equality and lack of accessibility for an individual, group, or groups that is put in place by some sort of higher official or organization that should be helping all. It often goes unseen by many and quickly becomes “the norm” to those who remain unaffected. Unlike personal violence, where the action is direct, the harm of structural violence is preventable (Weigert, 2008). Castro and Farmer (2005) bring up a great example of this when they talk about the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. They mention how even babies who contract HIV in utero often grow up having to face the same social stigma. Another example of structural violence is that of racism or social class (Weigert, 2008). For example, in India, a caste system exists that has labeled people as “untouchables.” There is no way for them to get out of that caste; it’s simply seen as who they are.
ReplyDeleteb) The problem that I am choosing to address in my presentation is the stigma associated with mental health disorders. Within our country, there is most definitely structural violence when it comes to this mental health. One of the easiest ways to see it is the way many people tend to assume all homeless people are “crazy.” There are also laws in place that prevent someone who has been in a mental institution from owning a firearm. While that seems like a no-brainer, what if that person wanted to go hunting? Or what if that person simply wanted to go a shooting range? What if they were admitted to the hospital simply because of a panic attack and pose no threat to anybody. It seems as if we are quick to take away the rights of those who have any sort of mental disorder when in reality, they are much more prevalent than we even realize. I have also witnessed first hand people lose friends and family due to the stigma and one of the sad things is, the friends and family don’t always realize they are pushing away.
Question #2
ReplyDeleteStructural violence refers to preventable harm or damage to persons where there is no actor committing the violence or where it is not practical to search for the actors; such violence emerges from the unequal distribution of power and resources (Weigert, 2008). The topic I have chosen to discuss is the rape epidemic women in South Africa are dealing with and the increased vulnerability of contracting HIV/AIDS. This issue is very much a structuralized sense of violence against women as they are subjected to violent sexual acts and oppression from that of their male counterparts. In regards to the structural violence, women are subjected to factors not only just with physical violence, but also with their economic position, male dominance regarding control of sexuality, as well as women having a lack of control regarding their own lives.
Although the exact levels of gender violence in South Africa against women is unknown, research statistics and police reports have gathered significant information in order to determine a significant threat. It is estimated that only 2.8% of rapes are reported, brining the total rapes to about one million a year (“Human Rights Watch”, 1995). The men raping these women whether it be within a marital relationship or not, physical harm and the need for economic dependence often keep these women from leaving. Women face even greater vulnerabilities in the labor market due to their relative lack of education and training (Ackerman and de Klerk, 2002). These limitations further push women towards providing sexual acts in exchange for money to cover even their most basic needs, further increasing the likelihood in contracting HIV. The level of structural violence is most prevalent in the inequalities between men and women and the lack of control women have over their personal decisions regarding sex. Often women have little bargaining power to negotiate safe sex with their partners and few have control over the sexual behavior of their partners (Ackerman & de Klerk, 2002). In a study that was conducted by Wood and colleagues (1997), a girl explained, “As a woman you have no rights, you must keep quiet and do as the man wants” (p.23). Although women are aware of these barriers and restrictions forced upon them, it is that of the cultural norms and expectations within the society they live in.
Ackermann, L., & de, K. (January 01, 2002). Social factors that make South African women vulnerable to HIV infection. Health Care for Women International, 23, 2, 163-72.; Human Rights Watch. (1995). Violence against women in South Africa. New York: Author.; Weigert, K. M. (June 01, 2001). Structural violence. Kurtz, Lester, ed. Peace Research Abstracts, 38, 3.); Wood, K., Jewkes, R., & Maforah, F. (1997). The violence connection in reproductive health: teenage accounts of sexual relationships in Khayelitsha. Urbanisation and Health Newsletter, 3, 21–24.
Structural violence results from a social structure or institution systematically harming or causing disadvantage(s) to a person or group. Structural violence can be invisible and subtle, and there is usually not one person responsible for the problem. It is often embedded in an organization, and reinforces existing power structures. Examples of structural violence are all forms of discrimination: racism, sexism, classism, ageism, able-bodyism, and heterosexism. According to Mass Weigert (2008), structural violence comes from the unequal distribution of power and resources, hence it is built into the structure(s).
ReplyDeleteMy presentation will focus on women’s reproductive health issues. This includes the right for women to have access to safe and effective methods of birth control, and the right to access heath care services that help women have a safe pregnancy and delivery, and to give birth to a healthy infant. The problem is compounded for refugee women, who may have to give birth as they are fleeing their country. They may lack the basic items needed to have a safe and clean delivery. In the late 1980’s, almost every one of 500,000 maternal deaths around the world occurred in a poor country. Today, the lack of appropriate maternal care is the leading cause of death and illness in women around the world. 350,000 women will die this year from pregnancy-related issues, with the large majority from poor countries. In a 2010 report on maternal mortality, the United Nations Population Fund found that complications from pregnancy are the leading causes of death for 15-19 year old adolescents in developing countries. In addition, 215 million women cannot access contraception. This is all due to structural violence in women’s reproductive health care, from gender inequality and the feminization of poverty (women representing a disproportionate percentage of the world’s poor).
A specific example of a program combating structural violence in women’s reproductive health care is Programs for Partners In Health in Haiti. They have sought to understand why women have been intimidated from the formal health care system through structural violence. Besides the high cost of health care and transportation, and the lost work time spent travelling to the nearest clinic, women are often inhibited from accessing health care by social and cultural factors. PIH has found a way to overcome structural violence in healthcare by changing the way it is delivered. In most developing countries, family planning services are delivered “vertically”; each step may take place in a separate room, causing the woman to wait in a number of lines and meet with multiple nurses or workers. This can take time away from the woman’s job or family, and waiting in a specific line may carry a stigma within her community. PIH has combated this issue by training nurses to offer to discuss family planning and give HIV testing routinely with each health system contact. They have reduced waiting time in clinics, increased the number of providers delivering family planning methods, and improving access by delivering services in the community. Pregnant women are also offered transportation money and assistance to reach clinics for prenatal care.
In a global context, being able to make one’s own decision about one’s health, body is a basic human right. 215 million women cannot access contraception. This contributes to the cycle of poor health and poverty. Ignoring women’s health care on an individual level means harmful physical and psychological effects, loss of earnings and increased healthcare costs. The wider costs are lower productivity, and reduced economic output and growth.