“What is and what contributes to Structural Violence?”
Paul Farmer makes a very strong and valid argument when he argues thus clearly
supports views about structural violence in his essay entitled “On Suffering and Structural
Violence.” According to Farmer, structural violence can be classified as an event in which a
person is caused to suffer due to the actions imposed on them by another person, most commonly
an official of government or person in higher power. “Political violence” and “social forces”
(329) as well as “racism, sexism” and “grinding poverty” all contribute to the term referred to as
structural violence. Considering that structural violence includes poverty often constraining
people to find any work necessary, I believe an example of the kind of structural violence that
Farmer describes would be a person who is forced to work a job in which they are uncomfortable
with or one that is unsafe. I agree with Farmer that although “a part of being human” (343)
includes the aspect of suffering, suffering as a result of a “forces conspiring to promote
suffering” makes structural violence such an appalling issue.
In his essay, Farmer gives two examples of structural violence which are different yet
similar in a way. The examples of the two people who live in Haiti and both died due to the
“soldiers who altered their destinies” (335) are similar being that both involved the government
or higher power. The only difference between the two was the way that the people involved
passed on and their encounter with the soldiers.
In the first narrative, Farmer gives his readers the story of a woman named Acephie
Joseph who died due to being infected with AIDS. Living in Haiti which is “entrenched with
poverty,” it was Acephie’s responsibility or duty as the oldest to “help generate income for the
family.” (330) Soldiers in Haiti were basically the only “salaried men” therefore being the
soldiers “sexual partner” (331) was the only alternative Acephie had to attempt to quickly get her
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family out of the poverty they were “sinking deeper and deeper” (330) into. After her encounter
with the soldier who gave her the disease she left her home to become a maid. Being that
working as a maid after three years could no longer be her source of income since she was
pregnant, she had to return back home. Returning home she realized she was ill and diagnosed
with AIDS, when she was with the soldier she had no idea he carried the disease. Acephie died
because she had sex with a man who “could command considerable respect” (331) due to his
position and power. I believe this does serve as an example of structural violence for the fact that
Acephie suffered and died because of the poverty she faced which obligated her to find a way
out through a man who had power.
The second story offers another view on structural violence yet still represents the same
subject, that being political oppression. Chouchou a man who lived life just as any other Haitian
man, died to the harsh and brutal beatings of military men. The reason for his death was the fact
that he made a remark about “the conditions of the road” (333) while an “out-of-uniform solider”
boarded the same bus. He was beaten and arrested because his remark about the road seemed to
have been offensive toward the president. Even though at “no point in the commentary” (333)
was the presidents name involved or talked about poorly, Chouchou was beaten and arrested. His
second arrest proved to have no reason just as his first one, aside from the military enforcing the
power that they possessed. “Chouchou was dumped in a ditch to die” (334) all because he made
a comment about the roads and was beaten to death by soldiers who have power to do anything
when and where they choose. This is the reason why a man who simply made a comment was
“mutilated” caused “head injuries” and was “badly bruised” until he died three days later from a
“pulmonary hemorrhage.” (334)
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In both of these examples people who were stricken by poverty were killed either due to
the injustice because of the power that government had or because they had no other alternative
but to become involved with someone who had such authority. Due to their interaction with
people who held such power in Haiti, both Chouchou and Acephie were caused injuries and
suffering and ultimately death. Farmer argues that these stories qualify as instances of structural
violence because people like Acephie and Chouchou are “less likely to have their suffering
noticed” all because of their social and economic status. Both people in those stories were
“constrained” of their “capabilities” (337) therefore and were victims of the distressing event
which is structural violence.
After understanding and taking into account the different aspects that structural violence
entails, an instance of structural violence can be when a person is forced to work a job which is
not looked upon highly, simply because that job provides the amount of money they need or the
timely fashion in which a person requires it. For example, becoming a stripper is something that
would enable a person to make a good amount of money, in a short amount of time. Since such a
job is so degrading, a woman feels uncomfortable having to demoralize herself in such a way but
being a stripper is the only source of income which is steady in the sense that the woman has
money coming in every day versus every week. The money is required in order to support her
family being that the mother of her siblings passed and she was left with the responsibility of
caring for them. Getting hired to work a high paying job can be a daunting task in this day and
age for the fact that the economy was once at a standstill. Hiring is not done so quickly and
easily as it once was since money is flowing as it used to.
The example provided can and does qualify as an instance of structural violence for the
reason that a person is forced to suffer in order to survive. Whenever suffering is caused upon a
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person due to either poverty, race, social and economic standings, gender, or political reasons,
that person has been a victim of structural violence. Once a person no longer has “agency” (337)
or power over themselves and have to do something they are uncomfortable with because they
have no choice, they have just as Farmer states, been a part of “human suffering.” Society looks
down at people who work such jobs such prostitution, being a stripper or even drug dealing.
Having to accept and acknowledge the fact that society looks down upon you due to the job a
person has and in addition the stress and worries of having to quickly provide for their family,
takes a toll on a person. Mentally a person can be harmed due to the classification and judgment
society places on them. Whether the abuse and or violence is mental, emotional or physical, it is
still structural since another person that person being society or government is causing the agony.
There are several people who would disagree with Farmer and argue that the examples
stated are simply instances of suffering and do not qualify or fit the characteristics of structural
violence. The key fact to keep in mind is that suffering exists in more than one way. The stories
of Chouchou and Acephie as well as the example all classify as structural violence, people who
are skeptic and disagree fail to realize that suffering when caused by others and is inevitable such
as being born into poverty is different kind of suffering. Some suffering affects and is
“sustained” more than other types, the distress that is “permanent” or “disabling” is the type
which opens the door for structural violence. Achepie did not asked to be born into poverty and
die because of AIDS nor was Chouchou at fault when expressing his feelings and being killed for
a straightforward statement and lastly, a woman who has to take up a job as a stripper to support
her family cannot be to blame for the fact that her mother died and left her in the care of her
siblings. Although there seems to always be another alternative, a person cannot always see that
alternative or realize that they can do something different than what they are doing, because their
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main concern is a way to quickly solve their problem. People such as the ones from Haiti cannot
be liable for inflicting or not being able to get themselves out of a problem because suffering was
inflicted on them; they have and had no other choice.
Subsequent to reading Paul Farmer’s essay and being exposed to the information about
Haiti as well as how racism, gender and status are all “embodied” (392) in structural violence
and suffering, finding an example of structural violence helped me see that analyzing anything
leads to more and more conclusions. For instance, once I realized that suffering can be
categorized into different parts I then understood why suffering is linked to structural violence
and it was then that I got a clear understanding of structural violence and its effects and causes.
With the examples that Farmer provided it is clear to see that it exists in several different forms
but to understand a person cannot be closed minded and feel as though people cause problems
for themselves as if a person desires to be placed in unwanted situations. Structural violence is a
complex topic that must be approached with an open mind in order to retain and understanding
its numerous parts.
Farmer’s analysis of structural violence helps us understand how people are pressured
into working in bad situations. Why would a person who is born into poverty and struggles daily
to eat want to remain that way? Why would a person who has to work daily doing a job they
despise desire or enjoy working there? These are questions that must be asked when a person
believes that structural violence does not exists or is brought upon one self. It is time that people
realize that people suffer daily and constantly due to the injustice of people in promote suffering.
Structural violence is a negative thing which impedes “human rights” (344) and sooner or later
leaves families in “pain” and “anguish”. (332)
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Works Cited
Farmer, Paul. “On Suffering and Structural Violence.” A Paul Farmer Reader. Ed. Haun Saussy
University of California Press: Berkley, 2010. Pp.328-348