Prilleltensky, Isaac, and Lev Gonick. “Polities Change, Oppression Remains: On the Psychology and Politics of Oppression.” Political Psychology, vol. 17, no. 1, 1996, pp. 127–148. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3791946. The authors of this essay explore the ways in which oppression manifests in society and how it functions on personal, interpersonal, intrapersonal and cultural levels. The essay focuses specifically on the existence of political oppression and psychological oppression which the authors posit results from historical patterns of subordination. Through recurrent and negative characterizations, the marginalized become conditioned to accept their place in society because they believe themselves to be unworthy of resources and …show more content…
opportunities. It is through this learned helplessness and developed complex of inferiority that marginalized groups learn to be obedient to authority and accept the conditions to which the dominating groups subject them. It is in the interest of the dominating group to portray the target group as undeserving of resources to exclude the oppressed from the standards and expectations the dominating group hold for themselves. Through this mindset, the dominating group justifies the oppression and continues to use their elevated place in society to advance their own agendas and interests at the expense of the targeted groups. This source will be used to further explicate the ways in which oppressed become so conditioned to their oppressed role that they accept their role and view their low place as a result of their own failure. This will support a theme in Kindred in which Octavia Butler explores the slave narrative and demonstrates the ways in which slaveholders used their interpersonal relations with slaves to influence the self-characterization of slaves as underserving of freedom because of the color of their skin and their genealogy. Through the development of a complex of inferiority the slaves became complacent with their role as slaves and seldom sought to escape in part because of learned helplessness. The authors of this essay frequently cite external sources to support their research and draw upon other author’s research to enhance their essay, allowing the source to develop its credibility. Pincus, Fred L., and Natalie J. Sokoloff. “Does ‘Classism’ Help Us to Understand Class Oppression?” Race, Gender & Class, vol. 15, no. 1/2, 2008, pp. 9–23., www.jstor.org/stable/41675355. This essay explores oppression as an issue of intersectionality where various forms of oppression interact to produce an intensified form of oppression. Among the various forms of oppression which include (but are not limited to): racism, sexism, classism, and ableism the author notes the way the aforementioned forms of oppression are structural and therefore dependent on each other’s existence. While the author examines the different factors existing on cultural and societal levels which shape the experience of oppression, the author also explores the common thread linking the different isms through the existence of systems of oppression. The author contends that oppression maintains five different aspects, that of exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism and violence. If a group experiences and of these interactions, they could be considered a targeted group of the dominant group. While the essay characterizes these five dimensions of oppression, it notes that the lack of a universally accepted understanding of oppression serves as a hindrance in anti-oppression causes since many believe oppression to be an attitudinal dynamic rather than a structural and power imbalance. This source will be used to explore the way oppression exists in society and how social influences and attitudes allow for various forms of marginalization to continue in society. The themes presented in this essay will support ideas about systematic oppression present in Chinua Achebe’s short story. Understanding the structural dynamics will allow for the identification of both the commonalties existing among the forms of oppression as well as the and the institutions and practices which allow for the continuation and justification of the power imbalance. This includes many sources who provide their own commentary on their understanding of class and its relation to marginalization and social stigmas in society. The authors then create their own dialect by critiquing the various sources to note what they believe to be the flaws and merits of the sources’ reasoning. The inclusion of multiple sources and the articulation of the aspects of the article create credibility within the essay as the authors use reason to disprove arguments and also provide concurring opinions. Wendell, Susan. “Oppression and Victimization; Choice and Responsibility.” Hypatia, vol. 5, no. 3, 1990, pp. 15–46. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3809974. In her essay, author Susan Wendell explores the idea the actions of marginalized groups are, for the most part, dictated by their oppressed place in society. This is not to say that oppressed individuals do not have free will, but rather that their place in society provides few opportunities and often sets a course of life that leads them to continue their cycle of oppression. This forms the basis of self-fulfilling prophecies since the dominating group uses this occurrence to justify their oppression of various groups. This source will be used to further examine how the authors implement the idea of self-fulfilling prophecies within the narrative of their story. It will serve as a necessary resource to understand how the opportunities available to certain groups influence their actions and their outlook on life. This will be used to rationalize the villagers’ response to free education in Chinua Achebe’s short story. While the author focuses this essay on sexism and the patriarchy, the author includes facts, data and studies from a breadth of topics pertaining to the idea of systematic oppression and the inequities in the distribution of resources and wealth. Bohmer, Susanne, and Joyce L. Briggs. “Teaching Privileged Students about Gender, Race, and Class Oppression.” Teaching Sociology, vol. 19, no. 2, 1991, pp. 154–163. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1317846. In this essay, the authors argue the importance of viewing oppression as an intersectional issue rather than a categorical issue.
While the authors’ goal is to teach about oppression, they include points about the impact privilege can have on understanding the existence of oppression in society. Since they are not exposed to oppression nor do they experience oppression, they struggle to rationalize and perceive different forms of marginalization. Understanding the influences of privilege will better elucidate the way it shapes oppression in society through policies and practices of the dominating class. The authors of this essay reflect on experiences they have had implementing this certain school of thought pertaining to the teaching of intersectionality in classes with predominately privileged individuals. Through this reflection, the authors better understand how many individuals are ignorant to the structural aspects of oppression and the ways their support of various policies and practices perpetuate the oppression of target groups in society. This will then be used to characterize the social milieu and its role in the stigmatization of groups. Further, a possible rationalization for an overarching attitude of indifference towards certain issues of oppression amongst certain groups will be analyzed in relation to privilege. In the essay, the authors build upon their credibility as educators and as researchers as they present the students’ response to various teaching …show more content…
methods and the way in which the students interpreted different methods of teaching and different interpretation and presentation of ideology. Prilleltensky, Isaac. "Understanding, Resisting, and Overcoming Oppression: Toward Psychopolitical Validity." American Journal of Community Psychology 31.1-2 (2003): 195-201. ProQuest. Web. 27 Mar. 2018. In this essay, the author explores the variations in cultural, personal, and interpersonal interactions shape the experience of oppression for each individual.
However, a collective experience of oppression arises from repeated and historic marginalization and social stigmatism. Among these are: the denial of rights, insecurity, and exploitation which lead to economic disparities, increased susceptibility to oppression, and fewer advancement opportunities. The author extends the discussion of modern forms of modern oppression to that of globalization, the establishment of regimes and societal norms which allow the exploitation of target groups under facades that the dominating group uses to justify its actions. This source will be used to investigate and develop an argument for the economic, social and political components of oppression that exist in society. This also creates discussion for historical accounts of the formation and existence of modern forms of prejudice and discrimination which have evolved into forms of
oppression.
Ruth, Seán. “Theories of Internalized Oppression.” Leadership and Liberation: A Psychological Approach. London: Routledge, 2006. 155-173. Print.
The article “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppression” by Audre Lorde explains that fact that there are no factors or boundaries that stop oppression. Lorde mentions that she as people in order to tackle a problem we go by one issue first then the next. However, she explains that every issue is interconnected with each other for example, in her situation she is black and a lesbian but both come in to play in all the groups she pertains in. Therefore, in both the communities they see her as vice versa. Lorde tries to emphasize that neither of the aspects that make up her identity are less or more important but equally accepted. In conclusion, Lorde wants society to stop treating just one particular oppression as more important than another because that will not us to come together and fight oppression. Instead, we should treat all oppressions as one in order to achieve change.
Oppression is defined by the act of subjugating a people and state through means of force- a universal theme explored in both Hobson’s Choice by Harold Brighouse and Letter from Birmingham Jail written by Martin Luther King Jr (Webster). How can one achieve what they term as the ‘good life’ under oppression and is it necessarily worth the consequences that can result from said search? Hobson’s Choice explores the difficulty of finding a good life under the oppression of a father and how that quest can result in a happier life. Letter from Birmingham Jail tackles a more defined term of subjugation and the danger of finding a ‘good life’ compared to safety and unhappiness under oppression. Ultimately, the search for a good life is derived by the struggle of rising above one’s oppressor with the personal satisfaction of searching for the good life outweighing the consequences that may arise.
Many minority groups describe racism and other forms of discrimination as being more than just prejudiced towards people based on certain characteristics. Prejudice plays a large role in what is considered to be racism, but it also consists of having a dominant position in society and power to institute and take advantage of their racism. This dominant group of people have the most power, the greatest privileges, and what’s considered to be the highest social status. They use their power to provide themselves with (easier) access to resources like housing, education, jobs, food, health, legal protection, and et cetera. On the other hand, the subordinate group of people are singled out for unequal treatment and are regarded as “objects” of collective discrimination. They are provided with inferior education, food, jobs, healthcare and et cetera.
Oppression is not always brought on in a violent and oppositional way, it can take on a peaceful and silent form; however regardless of the way oppression is introduced, it maintains the same characteristics of “imposing belief systems, values, laws and ways of ...
This power keeps the behavior of the oppressed well within the set guidelines of the oppressor (Freire, 2000, pg. 47). Critical Race Theory outlines this system of oppression as it relates to white and non-white races. By using the critical race theory coupled with the system of oppression described by Freire (2000), I propose that within the system of oppression, the oppressor must keep its own members in line with the prescribed guidelines by reinforcing the social norms from birth. Freire (2000) suggest that the interest of the oppressors lie in “changing the consciousness of the oppressed not the system” (pg.34). Identifying as white, therefore, starts at birth when members of the white class work to reinforce social norms that began with our founding fathers at Plymouth Rock. This long history of white privilege was taught to me and I continue to teach it to my children. As an educator of white affluent high school students, I believe we provide college and career counseling based on this white privilege system of oppression as well. Here, I journey even closer to unraveling the myth of white privilege as I encounter the intersection of an affluent white student choosing a career after high
This essay will be unpacking and analysing the different elements that create my own intersectionality in my life. This essay will be discussing how class, gender/sex and race have influenced who I am and the experiences I have had throughout my life, and how various structures impact these experiences, with reference to the Crenshaw and Dill and Zambara articles, I will connect their thoughts and ideas to the intersectionality of my own life.
There are two groups of people, those that belong to the dominant group and those that belong to the subordinate group. Placement of this group can either be temporary or permanent depending on the social context. Temporary Inequality mainly takes into consideration status or power, defined as the relationship of dominance with age or profession. The superior in this case has the quality to impart on the lesser party. The lesser party however retains equal worth as the superior party and equality is developed between both parties. While Permanent Inequality is ALL about status and power. In this group there is firm difference between the worth of the dominant group and the subordinate groups. Dominants groups play their part by influencing and promoting negative associations with the subordinates. Dominant label subordinates as ineffective or incapable as a way to justify barring opportunities for all people. In some cases subordinates will respond to this with internalized oppression. In a system like this subordinates often develop skills and adapt to the ways of the dominant groups, often learning more about the dominant class than vice versa. Even though, many experts in the fields of “subordinate groups” derive from the dominant groups.
Currently, in our society we can see an increase in inequality and discrimination towards different people. Unfortunately, the American ideology does not take into account the diversity that exists in the country. The lack of an educational perspective that includes all people regardless of gender, race, sex, religion and social class is vitally important to take into account not just those people who meet the “normal” perspectives imposed by society, but also take in consideration those who don’t necessarily meet the social expectations. It could be said that intersectionality is a tool which helps us to analyze and defend multiple discriminations and above all to understand how different factors influence the rights and opportunities that
Through reading this paper you will learn about the key points from the article, A Social Worker’s Reflection on Power, Privilege, and Oppression written by Michael S. Spencer and the article White Privilege: Unpacking The Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. Then the paper will include my personal beliefs on the topic of privilege and even some of my own personal privilege that are in my knapsack and that have helped me along my way in life. Finally, There will also be a point in the paper where I will have the ability to informed you about how privilege affect people and how they can positively affect people who do not receive them. Privileges impacts many groups of people in many different ways. They can be effected by
Intersectionality was one of the greatest concepts this course shed light on, intersectionality is can be broadly defined as the coming together of various social groups to work together to fight against forms of oppression. In the conceptual frameworks portion of the book Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, they talk about the importance of privileged identities and disadvantaged identities coming together to work towards solving a particular issue. While before taking this course I was somewhat aware of the various forms of oppression, I never gave much thought to how I could help combat forms of oppression that I did not necessarily experience with my own identity.
This theory focuses on using multiple factors to conceptualize systems of oppression. Patricia Collins, in her article, “Towards A New Vision” mentions to the reader it is important that we realize race, class, and gender are interlocking categories of analysis that together cultivate profound differences in our personal biographies (Collins,1989). Meaning, it is important to take into account an individual’s identity is more than just being female/male or black/white. Intersectionality allows for multiple factors to be analyzed at a time rather than just analyze dichotomous factors. For example, within intersectionality individuals are allowed to analyze the life of a Hispanic women, living in a low class neighborhood, who has a means of low education. Collins states, “we must re-conceptualize race, class, and gender in order to create new categories of connection and questions how can we transcend these barriers created by our experience with race, class, and gender oppression.” However, intersectionality brings forth many problems in terms of social
Oppression is this and so much more than what Ben Harper wrote in his song. Oppression is an unjust or cruel exercise or action of power. Everyone experiences oppression at least once in his or her lives. We have only recently begun to fight the effects of oppression, to gain freedom in our world. Oppression divides us to keep us from maintaining our freedom, what little of it we have. Oppression is completely based on hatred and preys on you when you sleep, or when you are at your lowest point. It kicks you when you are down, and pushes you further down the rabbit’s hole. It forces you to fight when you are the weakest and will take your very last breath. It takes one problem and snowballs until you can not take it anymore. We can learn to fight oppression, if we only make ourselves aware.
Discrimination leads to a range of different mistreatments from feeling humiliated by another to depression, depending on the ways in which the individual responds. Having any sort of negative type behaviour towards the targeted individual, or even a group of people on either their race, or religion is seen as discrimination towards that specific group. The experience of such discrimination can be stressful, and also reduce a person’s sense of control. Having constant experience on discrimination can have major and negative impacts to the quality of an individual’s life. Racial and ethnic minorities are most likely to receive more discrimination against their groups than other groups, e.g. the Middle East (Todd 2012).
Sidanius, James. “The Psychology of Group Conflict and the Dynamics of Oppression: A Social Dominance Perspective” In S. Iyengar & W. J. McGuire (Eds.), Explorations in Political Psychology pp 183-219. Durham: Durham University Press, 1993. Print.