Family violence Quote by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky
““One example of systematic oppression is structural violence. This concept was introduced in the 1970s by Johan Galtung, a pioneering Norwegian researcher in peace and conflict, and founder of the International Peace Research Institute. He describes structural violence as “a form of violence which corresponds with the systematic ways in which a given social structure or social institution kills people slowly by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. Institutionalized elitism, ethnocentricism, classism, racism, sexism, adultism, nationalism, heterosexism and ageism are just some examples of structural violence. Life spans are reduced when people are socially dominated, politically oppressed, or economically exploited. Structural violence and direct violence are highly interdependent. Structural violence inevitably produces conflict and often direct violence including family violence, racial violence, hate crimes, terrorism, genocide, and war.””
About This Quote
Structural violence describes systemic harms—like racism, sexism, and classism—that slowly deprive people of basic needs, often leading to direct violence and conflict.
In simple terms: Systemic oppression harms and fuels conflict.
Key Takeaway
Invisible systemic harms cause tangible suffering.
Themes
structural violence
inequality
social justice
conflict
Mood
urgent
critical
Type
educational
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- community health disparities
- education on bias
- human rights advocacy
Key Concepts
power dynamics
institutional neglect
Practical Applications
- integrate structural violence awareness into organizational training
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies measure structural violence?
- What interventions most effectively reduce systemic harm?
A Different Perspective
The definition may blur lines between structural and direct violence, oversimplifying complex causality.
