In a world where suffering seems inherent to human condition, Paul Farmer’s exploration of “On Suffering and Structural Violence: A View From Below” offers a profound lens through which to examine the roots and ramifications of this pervasive issue.As Farmer navigates the intricate intersections of suffering and systematic injustice, his words invite us to delve deeper into the complexities of our social fabric, prompting reflection and action. In this essay, I will examine how intersectionality serves as a valuable theoretical approach in the study of inequality, through Paul Farmer’s article. By analysing Farmer’s insights through the lens of intersectionality, I aim to explore the nuanced interplay of various forms of oppression and privilege, shedding light on the …show more content…
As I delved into Paul Farmer’s exploration of suffering and structural violence through an intersectional lens, I began to draw parallels to contemporary events and historical injustices. For instance, the Black Lives Matter movement highlights the intersecting oppressions faced by black individuals, especially black women, who experience compounded discrimination based on race and gender. Similarly, the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on marginalized communities emphasizes the interconnected nature of systematic inequalities, as factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare intersect to exacerbate health disparities. Adding to the above examples, the experiences of LQBTQ+ individuals with various forms of inequalities and discrimination, particularly those who are people of color, also reveals the complex interplay of various forms of oppression. Therefore, Farmer’s analysis prompts a critical examination of these intersections and their implications for social justice movements and policy
In Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War on the Poor, Paul Farmer uses his experiences as a physician and anthropologist to deliver confirmation and analysis of poverty. A substantial part of the work comprises of reflections by Farmer on the way in which the current worldwide economic structures stimulate a systematic violence against the rights of the poor. While primarily focused on health, and profiling the impacts of Tuberculosis, AIDS and other diseases, his involvement
Structural Violence Structural violence is a form of violence which corresponds with the systematic ways in which a given social structure or social institution prevents individuals from achieving their full potential as explained by Galtung (1969). Structural violence explained by Samantroy (2010) is “…believed to come from a lack of access to power to protect oneself from the detrimental effects of the economic, political and social order” (26). Based on the definition of these two authors (Galtung
Suffering is often the result of structural inequalities built upon deep histories of oppression and discrimination. Suffering proliferates itself when these structures remain unchanged. This can be seen with examples from Paul Farmer’s article, On Suffering and Structural Violence: A View from Below, and Neill Blomkamp’s film District 9. However, these two pieces not only reveal how suffering proliferates itself but how people survive in a world where suffering is a constant cycle. People often
Violence leads to suffering; but it is not always that one can see Violence. The traditional understanding of violence follows the general path of manifested violence in form of bodily hurt or injury. The concept of structural violence has always been used in the lexicon of Marxist theorists while analysing the relation between class structure, power and labour exploitation. Gramsci (1971) explains structural violence in terms of cultural hegemony wherein the “civil society” works tirelessly in ‘manufacturing
Paul Farmer’s Pathologies of Power exposes the brutal realities many oppressed face and the core foundations responsible for those in destitution. He presents these harsh truths through personal stories that shock the reader into understanding the complexity and severity of the issue of healthcare. Poverty’s role is critical in that it may be the root cause of those afflicted with disease, but also prevents those from the needed treatment. Farmer radically calls for a change in healthcare delivery