Violence as a Social Construction - Essay Example

Running Head: SOCIOLOGY OF VIOLENCE Sociology of Violence Violence as a social construction The theoretical meaning and understanding of what is referred to as violence is somewhat underdeveloped. Violence to a person can be socially defined, sexualized, or gendered. Victim’s characteristics can be highlighted, as well as the interactional and social contexts within which different forms of violence occur. This can entail a social meaning consideration constituting a person’s notion with public space occupation and the right to life (Richardson and May, 1999). A group’s social construction identity involves differentiating an individual or the group from others and therefore identifies the construction necessary for potential antagonistic, violent relationship with other groups. An alternate interpretation of violence is invoked by the social construction which places the violent act to a supra-individual level like cultural systems, symbolic, or discursive formations having their own agency or logic. In this kind of analysis, culprits are products or pawns of discourses existing and moving independently of any particular individual’s actions (Fearon and Laiting, 2000). To comprehend how family policy on violence and recommendations are publicly presented, it is important to analyze and understand the rhetoric behind construction of this issue. The information will serve collectively as a guideline in constructing a picture of the rhetorical social construction of violence (Mitchell, 1980). Violence is caused by Biological, Psychological, or Social Factors Aggression is a response that delivers stimuli, noxious, to another organism. It is a behavior learned either culturally or socially. Violence, just like aggression, is a reaction towards social stimuli. This point can be reinforced by the fact that violence is actually beneficial to some societies which use its functionality to achieve their aims. Some societies attain their ill agendas by resorting to violent means. Thus, violence is a social construction that can be abused and misappropriated (Leonard, 1990). The biological aspect approach towards aggression is related to hormones. Researchers have established links between aggression and hormone levels. Other suggestions point out that levels of testosterone may be as a result of aggression. Retaliation towards aggression leads to violence. Chromosomes have also been closely associated with aggression. Males who have the XYY composition of chromosomes are said be more aggressive. This shows a genetic link associated with aggressiveness. Violent biological arguments do not properly put into consideration that humans are more complex compared to other animals, hence having the volition in choosing their behavior.  The other animals do not have this capability, making humans a very unique species (David, 2005). Structural Violence is the Violence of Injustice The term ‘Structural violence’ was first used during the 1960s and refers to a violence form where a social institution or social structure harms people purportedly by preventing and denying them their basic needs. Institutionalized ethnocentrism, elitism, classism, sexism, racism, nationalism, ageism, heterosexism, and adultism are among structural violence examples. Direct violence and structural violence are highly interdependent. These include family violence, hate crimes, genocide, racial violence, terrorism, and war (Leighton and Winter, 2001). Structured violence produces death and suffering as often as does direct violence. However, the damages are slower, more common, more subtle, and difficult to repair. World wide, poverty is directly correlated with infectious diseases, infant mortality, and short life expectancy. When people are prevented form accessing society’s resources, psychological and physical violence follows. Being denied political power, education, health care, or legal standing are among structural violence forms. When children in the inner city have adequate schools while their counterparts in the countryside do not have, when lesbians and gays are fired based on their sexual orientation, when some laborers toil daily in very inhumane conditions and suffering, when people are subjected to toxins in the neighborhoods and surroundings, structural violence exists. These are injustices of the highest order. It is unfortunate that even structural violence and injustice victims do not often see the way their plight is being choreographed by unfair and unequal distribution of resources (Leighton and Winter, 2001). Violent Crime Flies under the Radar of the Authorities Data from decades of research shows that incidents of violence targeting women and children go unreported. Therefore, many government authorities fail to document them. According to the United Nations, at least one out of three women have been coerced into sex, beaten, or abused in one way or the other, mostly by people they know. World Health Organization asserts that between fifteen percent and seventy one percent of women have experienced sexual or physical violence by a partner. Approximately five thousand women are killed by members of their family each year, in the name of honor. One out of five women and one out of ten men have had experienced sexual abuse during their childhood. Aside from the homicides, most of these cases go unreported to the authorities (Brass, 1997). Our culture is increasingly getting violent. This always escalates into wars. There is an incessant desire for discussion, dissection, violence, and living in a state of heightened fear. People are always being reminded of the enemy, who is often characterized along racist, nationalist, class, and xenophobic lines. The mainstream media has failed in acknowledging the crimes’ gendered nature and instead reports about them as if they were random violence acts. It is not coincidental that many of these routinely committed violent acts do not receive the attention they deserve (Brass, 1997). Dehumanization of the Perceived Enemy Dehumanization is the actual extension of the less intense “enemy image” development process about an opponent. In the course of a protracted conflict, fear, distrust, and anger feelings dictate the perceptions the parties have of each other. Adversarial perceptions and attitudes develop with parties’ beginning to attribute negative traits about the opponent. They start to view their opponent as evil, an enemy with no moral virtue, warlike monster, dangerous, and less human who should be wiped out of existence (Steuter and Willis, 2009). The enemy image is a stereotype via which the other group is seen as evil, and one’s own side, is seen to be good. These are the same tactics which gangs, extremists, and even the military uses to brainwash their members in thinking the same. This state of mind when catalyzed by PTSD can produce worst case scenarios like in the cases of Ted Bundy and Sergeant Robert Bales. While ordinary members of a group may be regarded to be innocent or neutral, their leaders may be viewed as monsters and mothers of all evils (Steuter and Willis, 2009). Dehumanization indeed paves the way for violation of human rights, genocide and war crimes. For example, during the WWII, Hitler’s dehumanization of Jews led to the holocaust. Similar atrocities occurred in Cambodia, the former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda. However, the dehumanization psychological process might be reversed or mitigated through empathy development, humanization efforts, pursuit of common goals, and establishing personal relationships on the conflicting parties (Steuter and Willis, 2009). What should be done about Domestic Violence Estimates are only ten percent of the total violent acts get reported. These incidents range from injuries to verbal threats. In a family, abuse directly affects both partners and children as well. Acts of domestic abuse only continue when allowed to (Yupcavage, 1991). There are legal procedures to be followed in case of any form of abuse. First thing is to report to the police and fill out a report. The information is important and may be used in court of law. Constitutions around the world provide protection to victims from the oppressors temporarily when a lawsuit is still in court. Criminal charges can be pressed whether married, related or not (Hansen and Harway, 1992). An anonymous and secure shelter for temporary accommodation is a good option for the victim and the children if there are any. There are agencies offering these services across the globe. In these centers, one is advised to go for counseling sessions. In some countries, there are hotlines for family violence where one can speak to a trained counselor (Hansen and Harway, 1992). In conclusion, domestic violence does not have to continue. This will not happen unless both the victims and the perpetrators take action towards stopping it. Different countries are urged to review the laws governing this vice and make them carry stiffer penalties. References Berkowitz, Leonard (1990). Psychological Dimensions of War. B. Glad (ed.). Los Angeles, California: Sage Publications Churchman, David (2005). Why We Fight: Theories of Human Aggression and Conflict. Boulder: University Press of America. Diane, R and Hazel, M (1999). ‘Deserving Victims?: Sexual Status and the Social Construction of Violence’. The Sociological Review, 47(2), 308-331. Fearon, J. D. and Laitin, D. D (2000). ‘Violence and the Social Construction of Ethnic Identity. .International Organization’, 54(4), 845-877. Hansen, M. and Harway, M (1992). Recovering From Battering: Family Therapy and Feminism. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Mitchell, C. R. (1980), ‘Evaluating Conflict’, Journal of Peace Research, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 61- 75. Paul, Brass. 1997. Theft of an Idol. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Steuter, E. and Wills, D (2009). Discourses of Dehumanization: Enemy Construction and Canadian Media Complicity. Global Media Journal, 2(2), 7-24. Winter, D. D. and Leighton, D. C. (2001). Structural violence. In D. J. Christie, R. V. Wag-ner, & D. D. Winter (Eds.), Peace, conflict and violence: Peace psychology in the 21st century. New York: Prentice-Hall. Yupcavage, J. (1991). Clippings Report on Domestic Homicide. Harrisburg: PCADV. Read More