The pyramid of gender-based violence

This graphic representation shows different layers of visibility of gender-based violence.

As a result of increased awareness of issues related to discrimination against women in recent years, a number of theories have emerged to explain the ways in which gender-based violence is exercised.

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

What is the pyramid of macho violence?

The social dynamics are always complicated to understand, and for that reason, at the time of understanding its nature, many times one resorts to the graphical representations that simplify it. This is an example of how a triangular figure is used to represent the different levels of aggression and violence.

The pyramid of male 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 symbolic nature. a relationship is established between extreme physical violence and other more subtle forms of violence, of a more symbolic and structural nature (i.e., involving the functioning of society as a whole).

In addition, it is usually applied to the explanation of male violence against women, although sometimes it is also adapted to include violence and aggression related to discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, or even racism and xenophobia.

It is a widespread concept based on a graphic showing a triangle with several staggered levels, at the bottom of which are abstract and social phenomena that foster unequal dynamics and the imposition of power by some over others, and at the top are the following the definitive and concrete expression of this power over the other: physical violence and murder..

The levels of violence

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

Attitudes and beliefs

This level represents beliefs that legitimize certain forms of inequality and discrimination at the expense of the rights of some groups.

2. Microaggressions or micromachisms

These are actions (including speech) that take for granted the take for granted the inferiority situation 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 their social status. Also includes threats, defamation, insults…

4. Physical aggressions

As its name indicates, this part of the pyramid of violence includes attacks that compromise the physical integrity of people. It can take the form of beatings and beatings, up to rape.

5. Murder

In the last category, the person attacked is definitively annihilated by murder; the perpetrator kills him or her.

Its influences: the iceberg of the unconscious and the triangle of violence.

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

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

For example, Amnesty International published a variant of the pyramid entitled "The iceberg of gender-based violence" in infographic format, in which a division is made between the visible and invisible parts of this phenomenon, on the one hand, and the explicit and subtle forms, on the other. This representation necessarily makes us think of 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 objectifiable harm to one or more individuals. That is to say, easily visible in specific acts, and it unequivocally signals the existence of a conflict..

Cultural violence

It pertains 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 by psychological constructs, but by social, political and economic dynamics. That is to say, material arrangements that generate imbalances and asymmetries of power.. For example, a parliament in which women are virtually unrepresented can be defined by some theorists as structural violence.

Problems and limitations

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

This means that it can sometimes be understood as a way of classifying forms of violence, going from the most concrete to the most abstract, and at other times as a model that explains how violence increases in intensity. In the latter case, a causal relationship is established from the lower layers to the higher ones, a relationship that has no scientific studies.The latter is a relationship that has no scientific studies to back it up.

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

Bibliographical references:

• Calderón Concha, P. (2008). Johan Galtung's Theory of Conflict. Journal of Peace and Conflict. ISSN: 1988-7221
• Mármol, C. (2016). Hasta nunca: a story about the iceberg of violence. 20 Minutos. Accessed 28/03/2019.