Symbolic violence is a concept introduced by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu that emphasizes the dominant mode of relationship of one person with another to establish a social asymmetry that generates considerable inequalities. This idea has been put into practice by various populations who saw the opportunity to impose laws, regulations and cultural representations to respond to particular interests. However, the paradox of this concept is that it generates a benefit at the expense of another’s harm. Currently, many people impart their ideas without taking into account the damage they can cause to the environments they frequent. In order to detect this type of traits in time, it is important to have concrete and precise information to have tools that can reduce or avoid unpleasant effects.
In this Psychology-Online article we will talk about Symbolic violence: what it is, examples and consequences.
What is symbolic violence
Symbolic violence consists of a way of exercising a power relationship between people through the imposition of symbols, norms and meanings. As its name indicates, this type of violence is not exercised through physical force, but through the use of words and inscriptions that generate a benefit for those who exercise it. In contrast, there is a sector of society that is significantly harmed by these impositions.
One of the aspects to highlight is that symbolic violence can be implemented by groups, institutions and/or specific people who have a specific objective of domination. In this sense, the use of language is the main tool that conveys the power relations that are established in society.
In this article you will find information about others.
How to detect symbolic violence
Symbolic violence can be detected based on specific indicators that allow its understanding. Next, we will need this information:
- Analysis of discriminatory stereotypes: Discourses are installed that lead to discrimination against social groups due to various circumstances and are deployed as naturalized messages that are not questioned by society.
- Observation of social and cultural contexts: spaces in which visual representations and concrete meanings are imparted may indicate the presence of symbolic violence.
- Listening to marginalized speeches: the isolation of social sectors as a result of the diversification of power relations means that certain people do not have the possibility of expressing any opinion about what has happened to them. For this reason, it is important to actively listen to those discourses that have been marginalized.
Examples of symbolic violence
In society, there are a wide variety of examples of symbolic violence. In this section, we will talk about the best-known models:
objectification of women
In many social media and advertising fieldss, women are treated as objects that can be dominated according to the interests of specific groups. Although this idea was presented more frequently in previous decades, it sometimes still persists today.
For example, this is the case of advertisements in which a scantily clad woman is shown and a man orders her actions to please him. Here we explain.
Homophobia
Although homosexuality has been integrated into society thanks to the creation of laws that allow marriage between two people of the same sex, there are still social sectors that exercise marked discrimination against this sexuality, as well as the rest of the acronyms of the LGBTI+ collective.
Delimited roles
This type of patriarchal violence could also be associated with the idea of the man as the provider of money and food for his family and the woman as the person who cooks, washes and cleans the house. In this way, women see themselves unable to work outside the home and men lack home skills.
Another example of this theme can be found in the widespread and erroneous idea that a man should not show his emotions because that would make him weaker and more vulnerable.
Consequences of symbolic violence
Symbolic violence has extremely unfavorable consequences for the development of daily activities carried out in society since it affects the way of interpreting reality. Below we show you the most important consequences:
- Maintenance of low self-esteem: As a result of the discrimination imparted by symbolic violence, it is common for many people to see their personality affected and have feelings of inferiority. In relation to this, large devaluations are possible.
- Occurrence of psychological disorders: The perpetuation over time of symbolic violence can lead to mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, depression, among others. In this sense, each diagnosis has a specific level of complexity and there is a risk for both the person and third parties.
- Social exclusion: There are social groups that are excluded from various social activities due to the high discriminatory content of symbolic violence. People who suffer from asymmetric power relations are left out of many areas of social integration.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Symbolic violence: what it is, examples and consequenceswe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Calderone, M. (2004). On Symbolic Violence in Pierre Bourdieu. Article published in “The Plot of Communication” Vol. 9, Yearbook of the Department of Communication Sciences. Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations, National University of Rosario.
- Peña Collazos, W. (2009). Symbolic violence as Biopolitical reproduction of power. Latin American Journal of Bioethics, 9 (2), 62-75.