How can we recognise when our dignity is being violated, and what effect does this have on our everyday lives?
“Dignity” is a powerful word that highlights the inherent value of human beings. Although it has no material form, dignity affects very concrete aspects of daily life. In order to recognise when our dignity is being violated, it is important to understand what dignity means and the rights that accompany it. Above all, we should be aware that our dignity is inviolable, as guaranteed by the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The inherent worth of every human being
In ancient times, the right to dignity was understood as something earned through merit. Today, however, it is understood in democratic terms. Everyone, not just those with merit or privilege, has the right to be treated with dignity. According to the Christian view, human beings are the only creatures on Earth that reflect the image of God (imago Dei) and are therefore inherently worthy of dignity.[1] Philosophical currents that emerged after the seventeenth century also affirmed the absolute worth of every human being. Unlike religion, however, philosophy explains human dignity through the rational autonomy with which nature, rather than the divine, has endowed people.
For example, Immanuel Kant regarded dignity as an inherent human value, belonging to individuals regardless of personal merit or social origin. His thinking, based on the secularisation of the Christian understanding of dignity, continues to influence fields such as justice, politics, and morality, which are now founded on universalist, egalitarian principles.[2]
Dignity in everyday life
In The Art of the Good Life, Rolf Dobelli defines dignity as “a sharply delineated area of my life that encompasses everything not up to negotiation. It contains preferences and principles that need no justification.”[3] In our daily lives, then, dignity expresses what it means to be human: being in control of oneself, being loyal to one’s convictions and values, and being committed to behaving honourably towards others, regardless of their origins or backgrounds. It is also a yardstick for judging members of a community based on honesty, reciprocity, and respect.
Dignity is thus an intrinsic value, a “good” that admits no compromise. It is true to freedom of thought and conscience and rejects as unacceptable being lied to, insulted, hurt, wronged, denigrated, ignored, or underestimated.
Dignity in the family
In a family, dignity is one of the main things that supports harmony between people. It is rooted in self-respect and respect for others. Respecting a partner’s dignity, individuality, and capacity for self-determination is essential for the development of a balanced and fulfilling relationship.
Sadly, marriage often turns from the calm haven it was meant to be into an unsafe place for partners. The high divorce rate worldwide shows that good intentions at the beginning of a marriage are often lost along the way, and spouses can become two strangers who hurt each other.
One of the most serious forms of violated dignity within a family is domestic violence, which can be verbal, psychological, physical, sexual, economic, social, spiritual, or online.[4] These reprehensible acts are all characterised by the humiliating, degrading, and restrictive treatment that the victim suffers at the hands of their own partner, who regards them as unworthy of respect. The victim often becomes tolerant of the abuse, believing that they deserve to be treated this way. They end up underestimating their own worth and seeing themselves as unworthy of affection, support, and understanding. In such cases, specialist help is needed to restore their confidence in their right to be happy.
Other situations can also disturb the harmony between spouses, parents and children, siblings, and so on. Particularly telling are cases where a family member feels that their place in the family is neither recognised nor valued, and that they are sidelined, misunderstood, or silenced. This may apply to siblings who are treated differently by their parents, elderly people who are overlooked, or teenagers who are still regarded as children and have their will and freedom of choice undermined as a result.
Dignity at work
The workplace is another setting where abuse of power can occur, with some people taking an aggressive, intimidating, or contemptuous approach towards subordinates. This can include other hostile behaviours that jeopardise employees’ work or poison the working atmosphere. Whether the relationships are hierarchical or between colleagues on the same level, violations of dignity as a form of workplace harassment affect productivity: employees may become unmotivated, unable to concentrate, or disinterested in performing well. Furthermore, those who are the targets of denigration often suffer stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, self-blame, and insomnia. They may choose to leave their jobs in order to remove the source of their distress.
If such abnormal behaviour becomes a permanent feature of the working environment, organisations suffer, too. Abuse affects not only those directly involved, but also damages the company’s income, reputation, and image. In such a context, raising the issue may seem counterproductive, as the victim risks being ignored or blamed by the people responsible for resolving such incidents. However, remaining silent is not a viable solution either. As difficult as it may be, making the situation public is an option worth considering for those being denigrated at work. Reporting such cases backed by solid evidence and an appeal to the law is preferable to silence and could, over time, help to put an end to the normalisation of abuse.
Other aspects of dignity
Dignity can also be violated at an institutional level when public or private organisations infringe the fundamental rights of citizens (for example, the rights of patients, people with disabilities, and minorities). It can also creep into the media, where the mass media tend to be rather lax in the way they portray certain public figures and others, in the name of freedom of expression and the pursuit of sensation. It can also arise in everyday life during brief encounters, such as in traffic, in shops, or at parents’ meetings, where differences of opinion can lead to exchanges that go beyond the bounds of common decency.
Disregard for dignity can also occur in relation to oneself, linked with low self-esteem, feelings of guilt, or denial of one’s own worth. However, we must not forget that we must respect our own dignity first and foremost.
Incidents that violate dignity are frequent and can be more or less serious, obvious, or sensitive. They may be overlooked because those directly affected might remain passive, choosing not to speak openly about what happens to them or to seek legal remedies where necessary. This perpetuates the idea that dignity is relative and subjective, with flexible limits and growing tolerance to frustration.
In reality, although dignity seems abstract, complex, and ambiguous, it refers to a universal right that must be claimed and given. This means recognising others as unique and valuable beings who are capable of rising above themselves and expecting to be treated as such. It means more than official regulations guaranteed on paper: it means valuing life and its Creator.
Genia Ruscu explains what human dignity means, which human rights are based on the principle of dignity, and how failing to respect these rights can affect us in our everyday lives, whether personally, within our families, in society, or at work.