Analyzing the lived experiences of marginalized people from structural violence

Subject Areas : Urban Sociological Studies

Karim Rezadoost ^{1 *} , Abdul Reza Navah ² , Ali Boudaghi ³ , Karim Hamidi ⁴

1 - Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran (Corresponding author).
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
4 - PhD in Sociology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Received: 2024-12-20 Accepted : 2025-03-15 Published : 2025-06-17

Keywords: Structural violence, marginalization, inequality, deprivation, and lived experience,

Abstract :

In recent years, with the rapid growth of urbanization and the increase in the Slum dwellers and the resulting socio-cultural harms, structural violence has attracted the attention of sociologists and scholars. The concept refers to structures that perpetuate inequalities and harms among Slum dwellers. Accordingly, the main goal of the present study is to explore the lived experiences of Slum dwellers in Kot Abdullah County from structural violence. The present study used a qualitative method and an interpretive phenomenological approach (Van Manen). The participants of the present study are 21 Slum dwellers in Kot Abdullah County who were selected based on purposive sampling. In this study, the data collection process continued until theoretical saturation was reached. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 Slum dwellers in Kot Abdullah County. In the present study, member control and researcher self-review techniques were used to validate the interview findings. The research topic was analyzed by asking questions such as obstacles to the development of individual and ethnic talents and capacities, how such obstacles and limitations affect the situations and status of individuals, and the strategies of individuals in facing these conditions. Accordingly, the lived experience of Slum dwellers from structural violence was categorized into seven categories. The categories obtained included 1. Multifaceted structural deprivation, 2. Social gaps and feelings of discrimination, 3. Institutional neglect and structural indifference, 4. Normalization of the situation and stabilization of inequality, 5. Social and cultural control, 6. Social complications and the crisis of the situation, and 7. Social passivity and feelings of failure. The research findings showed that structural violence affects the lives of these people more in the form of invisible and continuous economic, social, and other limitations.

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