My Brother’s Suffering
Structural violence exists easily in areas where the poor are so disadvantaged that walking over them takes less effort than a speed bump. Unfortunately, Haiti is one of these locations, having the 3rd poorest lower class and a government that has fluctuated ever since 1986 — when an oppressive dictatorship fell after three decades. Structural violence comprises of violences that are deemed so inhumane and in violation of basic rights that, while there is widespread suffering, these sufferings are great and should be circumvented at all costs. These include, but are not limited to, “ […] premature and painful illnesses, as well as torture and rape”(Farmer, 29). While these can happen to individuals, other violent actions that are considered in this category are violences against groups of people; “More insidious assaults on dignity, such as institutionalized racism and gender inequality, are also acknowledged by most to cause great and unjust suffering”(Farmer, 29). These base building blocks form the premise on which poorer citizens can be taken advantage of. For example, the story of Acephie details how, even though he was married, she did not refuse the gaze of Captain Jacques Honorat because of his social and economic position (Farmer, 33). Because he was in a position to make money, engaging in a relationship with him would improve the quality of her life even if it meant contracting AIDS in the process. Had she known that he was infected with AIDS, this could have influenced her choice. However, part of the structural violence imposed on her was that she did not know everything and was put into situations that endangered her in order to ensure her survival.
It is crucial to address the larger systemic issues at play in order to hope to correct the structural violence imposed on people. If Acephie and the other women had other options for stable relationships other than the soldiers, it would not allow them to take advantage of them as easily. If Chounchou, the Haitian imprisoned and tortured for an overanalyzed quote on paved roads, had been allowed to freely speak without violent consequences from an overly powerful military source, he may have been able to return to his wife and child. If there were safeguards in place to prevent military personnel from detaining any member of the public with little to no reason given, it would be harder for them to take advantage of their power and authority that they hold.
Despite being 3,279 miles away from this issue, it still affects us. There are other human being that, despite this being the 21st century, are still denied access to basic necessities such as health care and education. However, it is increasingly difficult to empathize with others when we know nothing of what they are going through. That’s why personal stories are so powerful; they allow people to relate because they can being to put themselves in others shoes and understand realities of how bad it can get. Statistics are good ways to back up arguments and explain that what people experience is widespread. However, personal stories humanize these statistics and allow people to relate and identify.
Moving forward, we need to continue work such as Paul Farmers in developing countries in order to close the equity gap and protect those who cannot protect themselves. Because we are of a first world country, it should be our responsibility to look out for our fellow citizens of the world and assist them when it is possible for us to do so.
