A Critical Estimate on Structural Violence in India

Structural violence is a permanent state of violence, which is embedded in the social, political and economic structures that make up a society. Due to the absence of concrete person and its camouflaged nature, it is also known as indirect violence. The structural violence is often accepted as norms in the society. Primarily, structural violence is the result of hierarchical relations within and between societies that privilege those who are on top and oppress, exploit and dominate those who are at the bottom. There are many examples of structural violence in the society. As for example, sexism, ageism, racism, classism, casteism etc. are systems of discrimination which directly or indirectly harm and disadvantages other sections of society. Sexism is a system of discrimination, wherein people are discriminated on the basis of their sex. In the patriarchal system women are discriminated on the basis of their sex. It creates gender discrimination and they face violence. Accordingly ageism is also a system of discrimination wherein aged people are respected more than children. They are not allowed to interfere in elders conversations and to share their opinions. It is there in many societies especially in India, elders are respected within home or family. But at the same time, aged people are also discriminated and deprived from due share and care. Caste system also creates structural violence in India and other Asian African countries. It is also supposed to be a system of discrimination where lower caste people are harmed, discriminated and exploited by higher caste people. On the other hand, some of the easiest examples of structural violence involve police, military, or other state powers committing violent acts.