This week in class, we talked a lot about the "culture of poverty" (Gorski) and structural violence (Farmer). It seems that, as Americans, we disassociate ourselves from those who have less; we define the American poor as having their own unique set of moral codes or values, and we define the non-American poor as exotic, distanced, and helpless. We fail to understand that structural violence factors like disease, political violence, and poverty create unavoidable risks for those affected by them, and as a result, those people have very limited life choices that we cannot fully comprehend (note the stories of Acephie and ChouChou in the Farmer piece). When so removed from people and families who need assistance, how can we really understand what they are going through or try to help them? We may donate 25 cents a day to feed a starving child in Africa or donate clothes to a homeless shelter, but is that really enough?
If you went to the performance lecture on Thursday given by the talented Gina Athena Ulysse, then you probably have a better understanding of how structural violence can have a stronger effect on those who did not grow up in the United States. Please watch the clip below (taken from a different piece of hers).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRDNjnNWXs8
In class, we said that structural violence proves that there really is no culture of poverty; using evidence from the Ulysse pieces and the Farmer article, support this. What experiences can you pull from Ulysse's story that show how she has been affected by structural violence? Furthermore, give your own thoughts and opinions on how we can better understand structural violence. According to the article, one can only understand suffering by "embedding lived experiences of suffering within the larger matrix of history, political economy, and culture." Despite this theory, the class got into a rather heated discussion about whether or not living in an impoverished location such as Haiti for six months is enough to understand suffering. If living there is not enough, then what is?
I think that structural violence is a hard thing for privileged people of any society to understand but I think that it is the hardest for the privileged in America to understand. Like the debate that we had in class last week, often we would rather point to poverty elsewhere than the poverty in our own backyards. I think that there is certainly something to say about this. Privileged Americans often go across borders to do humanitarian work. I think that this is great, don't get me wrong. I want to do the same thing, helping set up schools but I also want to do the same thing with charter schools in the United State's impoverished areas. But I think the problem lies on the lens that is used to view poverty. The poverty of Haiti, when seen through the eyes of a wealthy upper class white American man, is going to seem way worse than anything that he could ever imagine 'would be in the United States'. But has he ever been to the worst neighborhoods in America? Has he witnessed the immense suffering here? I don't think so. I think that this is problematic in two ways. It makes both the suffering across borders and within our borders lessened. It lessens the suffering abroad by exoticizing it, and making it 'part of their culture'.
ReplyDeleteI have actually heard someone legitimize their claim that it was somewhat inherent because of the way Africa is and the way 'those people' are here. Needless to say I erupted into a complete debate/scolding/ informational seminar on why his bigotry was so far from the truth. But those sentiments are out there. I think that shows ultimately that it is difficult to understand structural violence but also that it is not understood by many.
I really enjoyed Dr. Ulysse's performance Thursday night. She is a perfect example of someone who recognizes certain kinds of structural violence (SV) that exist in Haiti and the U.S. and doesn't exoticize or ignore the institutions that perpetuate the SV. She, like we talked about in lecture on Tuesday, places her own lived experiences within the context of Haiti's politics, history, economy, and culture in order to convey the suffering that befalls the people of Haiti as a result of certain structural violences. She has witnessed the disconnect that exists between those who cause structural violence, those who are silent about it, and those who suffer from it.
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To give my own thoughts on how we can better understand structural violence, I'd like to focus on the ways in which poverty IS structural violence. The first way to better understand any kind of SV- racism, sexism, poverty, political coercion, etc- is to ask ourselves, "What do I do to support it?" and then, change that behavior that supports the structural violence we're talking about. Think of the potential improvements society would have experienced if men, over the course of history, would've learned and appreciated the dangers of patriarchy and sexism and asked, "What do I do to support this system?" and then stopped partaking in that behavior. The same can be said for Americans and the violence those in poverty experience from being in poverty. When I ask myself, "what do I do that supports poverty in America?" Supporting legislators and policies that burden those in poverty is something many Americans do to support structural violence. We must consider how our decisions and choices affect others, particularly those who are oppressed by structural institutions like racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. Unless we hold ourselves accountable, structural violences will always plague society.
@ Carley I agree with you on the fact that Americans, especially privileged ones, disassociate themselves from structural violence and poverty. There was this show on MTV called Sweet sixteen where privileged young people would have lavish parties, but were ungrateful for what their parents did. They did a spin off show where the teens went to third world countries to see what it was like if they were not so privileged. I thought it was a good idea, but I think the producers of the show should have found a place in America that is just as bad as if you were living in a third world country. As American we do take a lot of things for granted. The right to school, jobs, etc. We think going to the countries that you will only go to once in a lifetime to help out with their poverty, will make us the hero. If we can’t see the poverty and the structural violence in our own country, how are we suppose to live as a country?
ReplyDeleteThere are some who believe that their opinion on privilege is right. I say if you have been through something then you are not even worthy to tell me what I should think or feel. We do have the right to freedom of speech, but there is only so much you can say before you cross the line. We need to learn how to listen to one another, before we try being the hero in a nasty situation.
I know this will sound really bad... But um.... Structural Violence is apart of the American Capitalistic way. @ Carly I consider myself a privileged American and honestly i do not care too much about what is happening in other countries because america itself is so messed up. I personally believe you cant fix or save anything unless you are fixed/saved yourself which america is not. and @Casey thats where I agree with you on. We need to stop trying to be a hero to other countries and worry about our own America. But @Sara I somewhat agree with what you say, but i dont believe we as american citizens can change the whole structural violence. As long as America is and continues to be a capitalistic nation these problems will never change, we will always be faced with this problem. We have all these problems in America not because we cant fix them or solve them, but because the government afflicts these things on us in order to make profit. For example Drugs are bought into America by the government... Lol the same government that wastes millions of dollars eradicating it of the streets are putting it back in the streets, Cocaine is not made in America lol... What poppy field do you know in Harlem?! It comes from Peru and other foreign countries. So I mean until our government changes and the political figures stop being so greedy it wont change. But as Americans we look to the "wealthy" for almost everything. And the wealthy blame the poor for bad outcomes in society, because they are too violent, too poor, too irresponsible, too worthless, ect. America's poverty is self inflicted by the "Wealthy... if every governor, senator, congress member, ect took out 200k of there already ridiculous salary to help their own people we would be ok. our national debt could be made 0 if that happened but no one wants to take out of the greedy pockets to make a change. And as far as programs to help our own, there are a lot of different programs out there however depending on the state you live in its limited. For example in Florida they have homeless shelters for families that let families stay there for up to 6months at a time. Helps the parents/parent get a job, keeps the kids in school, gives the family a car, and allowing them places to stay. Places for abused families, men, and women. Many different organizations that give out month supply worth of food and healthy food at that, ect. But again its limited. Its maintained by private people. But as i said last week having poor people is beneficial to the American way. In the end we as American citizens have nothing to do with Structural Violence we are just pawns in a big game of chess and the government controls what happens. Nothing really bad happens in the world these days its all controlled by government....
DeleteI agree with Carley in that of all societies privileged Americans would definitely have the hardest time relating to such harsh issues such as extreme structural violence. I am beyond thankful that I do not have to struggle with that on a daily basis. That being said, it is up to 'us' as Americans to not only help the issues "in our own back yard" but also to not ignore those in dangerous conditions in other countries. I believe that life is about balance. It is not placing too many apples in one basket. I think it is up to an individual's calling to carry out what they can do to "help." I can say that because I feel like as a full-time college student working part-time, I am in some ways trying doing my part and not focus solely on one or the other. I am not about to say this for any amount of credit. (PROMISE!) I support a child in impoverished Brail monthly. She is beautiful. Her name is Yoranna. And laugh if you want but I have obviously never met her but I love her. I also spend some time and tithe ten percent of every penny I make helping serve our community, city, and state through my church. I have done manual labor working on dilapidated homes and trailers that poor families were living in. I have spent time with children in a major government housing authority in the poorest county in Alabama. The list goes on.. I am sure that many of your stories can out do mine by far. I am only saying these things to reiterate that I am not one sided on this issue. I feel like it is my calling (may not be for all of you) to maintain a balance of keeping awareness of those locally, throughout the U.S., and throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, Gina Athena Ulysse was great. She once again, like numerous things I have learned in this course, had me thinking about things I probably never would have otherwise. We learned in class that structural violence is not strictly psychical violence. It oftentimes is other types of violence. Probably more times than not that is the case. However, in Ulysse's lecture she told a story that truly depicted psychical structural violence in Haiti. On a December morning her mother called her to tell her about utter pandemonium that was going on throughout Haiti. Cities were burning, countless buildings were burning to the ground, cars were overturned etc. She went on to quote her mother saying "Everyone knows what is going on and could care less." This was referring to public figures such as the President, and/or Prime Minister failing to speak a single word about the ramped violent acts that were spiraling out of control. This meant no comforting at all for the citizens. I could not and still cannot wrap my head around this. She called it "structural neglect." That is quite extreme you all. I know that things go on in Haiti that also happen in America, but I could not see something quite like this going down anytime soon in our country. That was simply a small piece of her lecture that stood out to me. It definitely fits with what we have been studying in class. It also fits with the "heated discussion" that our class had. Again, I see things from both sides' point of view. I just had the opportunity of taking into account some more detailed aspects of Haiti that I was not aware of before attending Gina Athena Ulysse's performance lecture.