Lateral Violence

Lateral violence describes the organized, harmful behaviours that we do to each other collectively as part of an oppressed group; within our families, within our organizations, and within our communities.

Lateral violence is also referred to as ‘internalized colonialism’. Colonization created a hierarchy based on fear-based power and control techniques (such as warfare, genocide, threat of death), the male gender and economic power.

Some general characteristics of lateral violence are; 1) repeating our original oppression by oppressing those around us 2) intensely focusing on the negative in another person or another group and 3) collective cooperation; a number of people work together negatively to attack and undermine another person or group.