The pyramid of sexist violence

Following increased awareness of issues related to discrimination against women, in In recent years, some theories have emerged that explain the ways in which violence is exercised male chauvinist.

In this article we will see one of the most popular lately, the pyramid of sexist violence, sometimes called the iceberg of gender violence. You will also find a summary of what it proposes and its limitations and problems.

• Related article: "Sexist people: these are the 8 beliefs that characterize them"

What is the pyramid of sexist violence?

Social dynamics are always difficult to understand, and that is why, when it comes to understanding their nature, many times graphic representations are used to simplify it. This is an example of how a triangular figure attempts to capture the different levels of aggression and violence.

The pyramid of sexist violence, sometimes simply called the pyramid of violence, is a graphic representation in which a relationship is established between extreme physical violence and other more subtle forms of violence, of a more symbolic and structural nature

(that is, it involves the functioning of the entire society).

Furthermore, it is normally applied to the explanation of sexist violence against women, although it is also sometimes adapted to include violence and attacks that have to do with discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, or even with racism and xenophobia.

It is a very widespread concept based on a graph in which a triangle with several staggered levels is seen, in the lower part of which is they find abstract and social phenomena that promote unequal dynamics and the imposition of power of some over others, and in the superior ones find the definitive and concrete expression of that power over the other: physical violence and murder.

• You may be interested: "The 11 types of violence (and the different types of aggression)"

Levels of violence

In short, these are the levels of violence presented in the pyramid, ordered from the bottom up. However, as there are variants of this graphical representation, some intermediate elements may appear in different categories than those shown here. For example, sexist jokes can appear both at the level of micromachism and at the level of harmful verbal expressions.

1. Attitudes and beliefs

At this level, beliefs that legitimize certain forms of inequality and discrimination are represented at the expense of the rights of some groups.

2. Microaggressions or micro-chasms

These are actions (including speech) that They accept as good the situation of inferiority of women or of some historically discriminated minority.

3. Harmful verbal expressions

These are verbalizations in which there is already an intention to denigrate or harm someone because of her social condition. Also includes threats, defamation, insults…

4. Physical assaults

As its name indicates, this part of the pyramid of violence includes attacks that compromise people's physical integrity. It can happen through beatings and beatings, even rapes.

5. Murder

In the last category, the person attacked is permanently annulled by murder; whoever perpetrates the attack kills her.

His influences: the iceberg of the unconscious and the triangle of violence

The pyramid of sexist violence is not part of a sociological or psychological theory developed in detail by researchers, but rather is part of the memes spread on the internet and propaganda pieces for raise awareness. Therefore, is not included in a scientific theory, but rather represents a theory in the broadest and most general sense of the word: explanations to a phenomenon that does not have to be empirically verified or have theoretical support strong.

Perhaps for this reason, the pyramid of sexist violence borrows explanatory elements that already existed before.

For example, Amnesty International published a variant of the pyramid entitled “The iceberg of gender violence” in infographic format, on the that a division is established between the visible part and the invisible part of this phenomenon, on the one hand, and the explicit and subtle forms, on the other hand. other. This representation necessarily suggests the psychological instances proposed by Sigmund Freud, although in this case all the elements are part of the social sphere, and not of what hypothetically occurs in the mind of each individual.

On the other hand, another influence of the pyramid of violence is sociologist Johan Galtung's triangle of violence. This researcher established a relationship between direct violence, cultural violence, and structural violence. Let's see what each one consists of.

Direct violence

This type of violence generates objective damage in one or more individuals. That is, easily visible in specific acts, and unequivocally indicates the existence of a conflict.

Cultural violence

It belongs to the psychological and attitudinal propensities of people, which are socially disseminated and reproduced in a given culture.

Structural violence

Structural violence is that which is explained not through psychological constructs, but through social, political and economic dynamics. Namely, material provisions that generate imbalances and asymmetries of power. For example, a parliament in which women are practically not represented can be defined by some theorists as structural violence.

Problems and limitations

The main problem with the pyramid of violence is ambiguity, since it is usually presented simply in the form of an infographic without further explanation.

This means that at times it can be understood as a way of classifying forms of violence going from the more concrete to the most abstract, and others, as a model that explains how violence increases in intensity. On this last case, a causal relationship is established from the lowest layers to the highest, a relationship that does not have scientific studies to support it.

On the other hand, the definition of violence as something so diffuse that it is distributed throughout society generates many problems to delimit the scope of these phenomena.

Bibliographic references:

• Calderón Concha, P. (2008). Johan Galtung's Conflict Theory. Peace and Conflict Magazine. ISSN: 1988-7221
• Marble, C. (2016). Until never: a story about the iceberg of violence. 20 minutes. Retrieved on 2019-03-28.