The banalization of symbolic violence and its relationship with hate crimes

Abstract

In contemporary society, the subtle and often overlooked phenomenon of symbolic violence has profound implications, especially concerning the proliferation of hate crimes. This form of violence refers to the imposition of meanings onto a group that are accepted as legitimate, often to the detriment of that group. Although not manifested physically, symbolic violence can have devastating psychological and social effects. Simultaneously, hate crimes, which are criminal acts motivated by prejudice against certain groups, have been increasing globally. In this context, the following article proposes a comprehensive reflection on this issue, integrating different theoretical perspectives and concrete examples for a better understanding of the phenomenon.