Indicators of Structural Violence in Marginalized Urban Communities: A Qualitative Policy Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to identify and analyze the key indicators of structural violence as experienced by residents of marginalized urban communities in Tehran, with the goal of informing policy responses grounded in lived realities. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews with 20 participants residing in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods of Tehran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to capture a range of perspectives across gender, age, employment status, and housing conditions. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis in NVivo software, following a three-stage coding process: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. Ethical approval was obtained from an academic ethics committee, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Three overarching themes emerged from the analysis: (1) systemic deprivation in public services, including inadequate access to healthcare, housing, education, and transportation; (2) institutional marginalization and neglect, such as bureaucratic discrimination, exclusion from welfare, criminalization of poverty, and lack of legal or political voice; and (3) psychological and social consequences, including internalized oppression, intergenerational trauma, social fragmentation, and chronic mental distress. Despite these challenges, participants also described grassroots strategies of survival and resistance, such as community solidarity and informal support networks. Structural violence in Tehran's marginalized communities is reproduced through entrenched institutional logics that deny basic rights and services, contributing to cumulative disadvantage and psychosocial harm. Addressing this form of violence requires systemic policy reforms, participatory governance mechanisms, and investment in inclusive urban infrastructure. Amplifying the voices of affected residents is essential for shaping equitable urban policy and fostering social justice.