Structural abuse is the process by which an individual is dealt with unfairly by a system of harm in ways that the person cannot protect themselves. The inability to protect oneself through such systemic harm may entrap individuals; psychologically, emotionally, spiritually. Often individuals who are subjects of structural abuse are unable to exit the abuse, enable justice against their abusers and seek recompense for crimes endured and damages incurred. Structural violence refers to action committed by a larger society, such as racism or classism in an entire society. Many social systems contain at least one level at which structural abuse occurs. Such structures often provision cyclical abuse, wherein the structural abuse is repetitive or, even "viral" or contagious in nature. In other words, the social systems that have structurally abusive attributes, are designed to control the individual by affecting their access to basic human needs, through the manipulation of all others within said systems. It refers to a form of violence wherein some social structure or social institution may harm people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. Structural abuse refers to actions that are not necessarily endorsed by the broader society. Structural abuse can be found in many instances of bullying that involve more than one person. Structural abuse can also be found in instances of , such as an individual officer invalidating the credibility of a complainant. "Standard police procedure is that there will be no investigation of a reported crime without direct evidence. Even if there is evidence, they can “drag their feet” on matters that don’t seem like an emergency. Officers are known to use minimization or victim-blaming arguments when reviewing reports of bullying as they seriously consider approving further police involvement and allocation of resources."
Types
There are three types of structural abuse:
Structural interference with an individual's personal; psychological, social, emotional or "spiritual" health.
Structural interference with an individual's ability to establish and maintain social relationships -- intimate or plutonic.
Structural interference with an individual's ability to establish and maintain employment, hobbies or other liberties.
Structural abuse is often indirect, and exploits vulnerable individuals such as; children, young adults, adults with disabilities, the elderly. Structural abuses often "survive" on heuristics of fallacies & distortions of logic.
