Types of Violence

Implicit violence

These are structural inequalities and abuses of power that are often very difficult to detect.

  • Symbolic violence: It involves a series of submissions and coercions that are not perceived as such, supported by cultural or religious beliefs and homogeneous social values, in collective expectations. Examples:

    • Display of discriminatory symbols, images and music.

    • Occupancy of the space.

  • Cultural violence: it is exercised through cultural aspects that legitimise it, either through art, religion, philosophy, law…

  • Structural violence: It is exercised through social structures and it seems immovable, although it is not. Prevents certain social groups, collectives or women from accessing basic rights, through deep-rooted barriers and obstacles.

  • Institutional violence: Type of violence that occurs when the institutions, their regulations and their actions are not neutral and do not develop policies of equal opportunities and eradication of violence sufficiently (in all its aspects) and with consistent resources to the targets. They perpetuate exercising violence.

Explicit violence

This is abuse that takes place in specific areas and, in general, in the framework of personal relationships. They are more visible and easier to detect.

  • Psychological violence: Any intentional behaviour that causes a person to be devalued or suffer, through threats, humiliation, vexatious demands, obedience or submission, verbal coercion, insults, isolation or any other limitation of their scope of freedom.

    • Insult or contempt

    • Shout or use of a violent or aggressive tone

    • Sexist, discriminatory and racist taunts and jokes

    • Judging the sex-affective life and/or the appearance

    • Threaten or Blackmail

  • Economic violence: Intentional and unjustified deprivation of resources for the physical or psychological well-being of a person and, where applicable, of their daughters or sons. It also includes the limitation in the disposition of own or shared resources in the family or partner sphere. 

    • Not offering the same economic opportunities to all people in the organisation.

    • Negative consequences for those not taking part in activities that are not affordable for all people from the team. 

  • Social violence: Control of “social life”, dynamiting social and family relationships and friendship circles by force or subtly until the person cuts off relationships and ends up isolated and detached from any kind of support 

    • Coercion so that the person participates in certain spaces even if they do not feel comfortable.

    • Put someone to shame during a meeting, public event or disclosure or in front of other members.

    • Not allowing someone to participate or attend an open meeting or event.

    • Promote rumours so that people distance themselves from the person. 

  • Verbal violence: To hurt by speech or message. It can be through insults, disqualifying words, attacks... 

    • Offensive and/or degrading comments.

    • Verbal abuse or any other hostile behaviour such as insults, mockery, or derogatory comments about the person and/or group.

    • Unwanted sexual allusions.

    • Publically reference or criticise the type of clothing dress of monitors, young people and children.

  • Physical violence: Any act or omission of force against a person's body, with the result or risk of physical injury or damage.

    • Undesired physical contact.

    • Any non-accidental physical injury or its attempt.

  • Sexual violence: Any act of a sexual nature that it’s not consented to by a person, including the display, observation and imposition, by means of using violence, intimidation, prevalence or emotional manipulation, of sexual relations, regardless of whether the aggressor may having a conjugal, partner, emotional or kinship relationship with the assaulted person.

    • Unwanted touches that make the person or group who suffers them uncomfortable, violent or unpleasant.

    • Attempts at sexual assault and/or rape.

    • Unwanted sexual looks or comments.

    • Harassment due to sexual choice.

    • Imposing unsafe sexual practices.

    • Blackmail and threat for sexual practices.