Polytechnic University Of The Philippines

College Of Architecture, Design, And The Built Environment

Department of Architecture
Sta. Mesa, Manila

ASSESSMENT E: ESSAY

GEED 20033

Gender and Society

Dela Rosa, Paul Angel S.

BS Architecture 4-2

Prof. Leonila R. Medina

June 12, 2023

 Polytechnic University Of The Philippines
College Of Architecture, Design, And The Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Sta. Mesa, Manila

Write a 1000-word essay tackling the following:

a) What is the difference between physical and symbolic violence?

b) Explain Patricia Hill Collins’ Intersecting Oppressions.

Violence is never a good option in resolving conflicts among different people because it

perpetuates itself, rather in a different form. Good examples are World Wars I and II due to the

death of Francis Ferdinand and the German Invasion of Poland. During our times today,

violence still is prevailing may it be physical or symbolical in nature, further causing conflicts that

impede the progression of humanity or harm lives.

Physical violence is the action of causing or inflicting physical pain or injury to another

person. Intent plays a major role in this may it be just to inflict, or to limit or control someone or

their determination. It demonstrates the difference of people in terms of power, strength or

social class. When abused, it may also be used to coerce people into complying with one’s

different demands, out of fear. It has different types depending on the situation. Depending on

the type of relationship one has, it may be bullying on an environment like a school or in intimate

relationships, in which case it will be called domestic violence. It has devastating effect on

people in which the violence is being performed to. In a family setting, if the child is experiencing

physical violence, it often leads to serious psychological harm as well as their tendency to adapt

the behavior towards other people, perpetuating the same behavior towards generations. In

terms of spousal abuse, the safety of the children is being threatened to coerce either the

husband/wife to stay and at times, criminal offenses are committed by the child themselves as

an act to protect the abused parent. This further proves that physical violence is never a solution

in enforcing discipline to them or establishing a good relationship with one’s family.

 Polytechnic University Of The Philippines
College Of Architecture, Design, And The Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Sta. Mesa, Manila

Symbolic violence is a subtle and indirect form of violence which targets the reputation

or recognition that others have for a person. They do this by using symbols, norms and other

traits that they can use to degrade the use. It was used and conceptualized by the sociologist

Pierre Bourdieu to explain how domination is upheld and reproduced in different societies. By

placing prejudices that dehumanizes a person or a group of people, it places the victim outside

the community, beyond the circle of moral behavior, and allows the withdrawal of empathy. It

also works in coercion and extracting consent, that rather than using physical force, people may

use delicate procedures to achieve what they want. It is damaging because it is solely

dependent on the dominant norms, race or values. Due to this, it naturalizes inequality by

making them appear justified and making the way of life of the dominant group the “correct”

way, while often stigmatizing other ways or sometimes making it seem like blasphemy.

Furthermore, symbolic violence relies on the stereotypes, prejudiced and biased concepts and

representations to either justify or perpetuate social inequalities, or both. Since it targets the

larger concepts that determine the values of the society, it has the power to create narratives

and social structures based from it that further promotes, reproduces or reinforces the existing

discrimination. Understanding symbolic violence and its effects in the society allows the

challenging of these hidden mechanisms leading to inequalities and injustices because of it. By

questioning and deconstructing the symbols, discourses, and institutions that uphold

inequalities, it becomes possible to work towards a more just and equitable society.

Knowing the forms of violence is crucial in determining different ways in which it can

manifest and expands the existing body of knowledge. It enables the people to recognize how

wide the horizon is in which these forms of violence serve as a form of perpetuating inequality,

injustice and discrimination from different types of people against people. It allows for a whole
 Polytechnic University Of The Philippines
College Of Architecture, Design, And The Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Sta. Mesa, Manila

range of accountability measures in which justice could be administered and lastly, it serves as

a gateway of promoting equality and is rid of violence without reason once and for all.

The nature of these 2 types of violence is vastly different in which physical violence

involves inflicting physical pain and injury. From this, the effects of this violence are mostly

observable and tangible, consequences of experiencing physical abuse. Symbolic violence, on

the other hand, is a more subtle form of violence that uses different forms of media to operate.

The use of this form of violence perpetuates the implementation of dominant norms, beliefs and

values to maintain the existing practices of inequality. The effects are mainly psychological and

emotional and in extreme cases, may drive a person to self-harming behaviors and other

behaviors.

Physical violence and symbolic violence have different manifestations, mainly on what

fuels the said forms and its effects on the aftermath. Physical violence is observable, which is

focused on the after effects, like wounds, bruises or cuts and may be documented through

conducting medical tests or may serve as physical evidences. However, symbolic violence is

not observable or measurable in any way. This form of violence uses already established forms

of injustice and discrimination to perpetuate it in which it serves as its fuel and at the same time,

its manifestation.

To further explore the inequalities or oppressions as sources of violence, Patricia Hill

Collins introduced the concept of intersecting oppressions as a way to understand how its

different forms, together with inequalities, intersect and reinforce one another. She argued that

people experience multiple systems of oppression at the same time, and that results in unique

and complex disadvantages.

 Polytechnic University Of The Philippines
College Of Architecture, Design, And The Built Environment
Department of Architecture
Sta. Mesa, Manila

She conceptualized the intersections of oppressions as gateways to domination in which

people’s sexes, race, sexuality, genders, etc. are included in it with various intersections.

Through this, she said that oppressions are interconnected, that rather than seeing them

individually, one should emphasized their interconnectedness and how it bred to more complex

disadvantages. A person’s concepts of racism may intersect with sexism, homophobia or

transphobia. Through this, a person may experience oppressions coming from the social

hierarchies that he/she is included in, resulting in intersecting forms that arise based on his/her

position. Understanding this concept allows for a more rigorous analysis and derivation of

approaches toward social inequality and a wider array of complexities or problems people face

on their everyday life. Through this, nurturing the concept may lead to a more inclusive and

effective iterations of plans to achieve social justice and making the world a better place

especially for the people who are experiencing different levels of oppressions.