What do we mean by Violence?
Posted June 16th, 2008 by zemdena
From my point of view the most important thing is how do each and everyone of as comprehend violence? What is our perception of it? What constitutes violence? How does the international community define it? , how do we define it in our respective communities? Violence is the exertion of force so as to injure or abuse. More frequently the word describes forceful human destruction of property or injury to persons, usually intentional, and forceful verbal and emotional abuse that harms others. “Violent behavior is defined as overt and intentional physically aggressive behavior against another person." Scientists disagree on whether violence is inherent in humans. Governments regulate the use of violence through legal systems.
Below are some forms of violence outlawed by governmental legal entities:
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Abuse |
To use wrongly or improperly used; misuse |
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child abuse |
Cruelty to children (people under the age of 18) |
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When an adult forces themself on a minor and tries to have sex with them. |
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An assault involving actual bodily contact |
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* Assault |
An unlawful physical attack upon another or threat to do violence to another |
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Assault with the use of weapons or in other circumstances beyond the realm of normal assault |
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When the opposite sex forces themselves on the other sex/or takes what they want when the opposite sex was not willing. |
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An unlawful attack upon another person by beating or wounding, or by touching in an offensive manner |
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A cruel act upon an animal |
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Acts of violence against a person living in one's household or a member of one's immediate family |
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The killing of another human being |
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Homicide in certain proscribed conditions |
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Damage to another's property (i.e.: breaking of things, burning, or harming in a devastating manner) |
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The unlawful compelling of someone through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse |
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This is the so called international definition but the question again is this true for everybody? I guess this takes to another important concept .what is ethical and what is not. Ethics encompasses right conduct and good life. According to Socrates a self-aware person will act completely within their capabilities to their pinnacle, while an ignorant person will flounder and encounter difficulty. In Aristotle's view, when a person acts in accordance with his nature and realizes his full potential, he will do good and be content. From the writers point of view it is everything that is mentioned above and everything that an individual wouldn’t want others to do to him\her. I guess the distinguishing factor is to think and critically see before we do something if that action is not desirable to as then it defiantly is not for others.
To me, the following constitute violence, when you are denied the right to express your self and instead punished for it, early marriage, FGM, when my father beats my mother and us his children, when my neighbor forces me to have sex, when the policeman threatens to throw me in jail if I do not have sex with him, when I am forcefully raped on my way home from school.
And in Kenya these things happen to children and youth everyday. During the political unrest following last year's elections, so many girls were sexually violated.
Young people were not only victims of violence through forceful displacement, they were also perpetrators, assaulting others, burning property and even killing their neighbors.
So how do we stop young people from being victims and perpetrators of violence? Give them space to discuss issues that frustrate them like property ownership, jobs opportunities and a right to decision making.
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