Hesperian Health Guides
Structural violence: Violence built in to our social systems
HealthWiki > Promoting Community Mental Health > Chapter 5: Violence and anger > Structural violence
Structural violence plays out in society in interrelated and complex ways. As an example: We know that air pollution can cause asthma. Mapping where asthma occurs shows that it is highest in low-income neighborhoods, often where a majority of residents are people of color. That is where traffic, oil refineries, and other industries pollute the most. The schools get fewer resources, leading to a less adequate education for those children and, ultimately, lower-paying jobs. Racism and lower incomes often prevent people from moving into neighborhoods with cleaner air or better schools, and because banks historically denied loans to area residents (a practice called “redlining”), it is difficult to improve the houses and businesses in the neighborhood. This is the multi-faceted way structural violence works.
Structural violence can deprive whole classes of people of human rights: as immigrants fleeing violence who are denied asylum; Black men stopped by police who are humiliated, imprisoned, or killed because of racism; and all those denied health care or jobs because of their gender.
These examples have obvious mental health effects, but all structural violence harms mental health. Besides being impossible to escape, structural violence can feel both invisible and invincible because we are taught “it is just the way things are.” Community projects that expose and combat these built-in sources of violence can be empowering, healing, and transformative.
Structural violence can lead to immediate tragedy, for instance, when a police officer shoots someone because of their race. The discrimination which is a feature of structural violence causes obvious harms and limits opportunities. One long-term effect of structural violence is stress that never lets up. Persistent stress can build up and create mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety, and physical health conditions such as high blood pressure, digestive problems, insomnia, and others.
Medical research indicates that the effects of the stress caused by structural violence can pass between generations as physical and mental health vulnerabilities passed on to one’s children.
Different strategies can help a person deal with the effects of structural violence. Counseling, other person-to-person support, and a variety of cultural practices can support health and well-being, but at the root of the problem are the harmful structures themselves, which can be changed only through social organizing.
Youth speaking out against lack of housing. Young adults at risk of losing their place to live or already living on the streets are victims of the structural violence of poverty and inadequate safety nets. A Richmond, California, organization, Tiny Village Spirit, works to empower unhoused youth and create housing. The young people receive stipends while participating in the organization’s leadership structure. They develop skills and gain experience by speaking at city council and other meetings, by doing media outreach and interviews, by writing letters to the editor, op-eds, and social media postings, and by organizing and leading events. Youth set and meet personal as well as vocational goals, and focus on developing their life purpose and long-term goals. They move from being victims to becoming active proponents of why and how to transform harmful social structures.
Creating the conditions so kids grow up healthy and successful. The MILPA Collective is based in an agricultural region of California where many residents have Mexican as well as Indigenous roots. MILPA offers rites of passage programs and monthly discussion circles for youth, ages 13 to 25. Where children grow up interacting with gangs, violence, and incarcerated community members, the program provides a positive collective vision of the future, bringing young people together to focus on building self-confidence, resilience, and leadership while drawing on Indigenous and other culturally relevant living and healing practices.
Stop debt from crushing people. The Debt Collective is a membership organization set up to be a union of debtors. They run campaigns to cancel debt (student, medical, bail, and others) owed to government and private companies. They also help individuals and groups to dispute and get out of debt. They envision a world where no one is forced into debt to survive.