Framing Internalized Oppression Valerie Ball & Garry Morgan

STATEMENTS This is a 75-minute period to do life-long processing This may strike a chord for you and when invite emotion into this experience We have crafted this presentation with the following principles from the Leading Diverse Communities book: Principle 12: People who feel good about themselves do not mistreat others Principle 14: Diversity leadership requires courage Principle 15: being an ally to another group requires us to heal the negative messages we have internalized about our own group Principle 16: Healing discouragement leads to more effective activism

INDIVIDUAL Attitudes Socialization Interpersonal interactions Individual behaviors INSTITUTIONAL Housing Employment Education Government / laws Legal system Health services (physical /emotional) Religion Media CULTURAL Values, norms, needs • Beliefs Language Standards of beauty Holidays Sex roles Societal expectations Logic system

Cycle of Oppression We surround ourselves with ‘lookalikes’; beliefs; socio-economic status…social conditioning We listen to the same ‘theory’ that we ascribe to…..from others We perpetuate the ongoing nature of the behavior cycle ‘Unconscious’ buy-in and Deception “Morpheus: Let me tell you why you’re here. You’re here because you know something. What you know you can’t explain. But you feel it. You’ve felt it your entire life-that there is something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is but it’s there. The Matrix is everywhere..all around us..you can see it; you can feel it. The world has been pulled over your eyes to blind you….Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.”

INTERNALIZED OPPRESSION When people are targeted, discriminated against, or oppressed over a period of time, they often internalize (believe and make part of their self-image – their internal view of themselves) the myths and misinformation that society communicates to them about their group.  Creates a negative impact on self and others. We take them (myths, stereotypes etc.) out against members of our own group. societal imposes a belief that results in a negative construct “What others say…”

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? self-image, worthy, capable, intelligent, beautiful, good, etc.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkpUyB2xgTM

ORIGINS OF INTERNALIZED OPPRESSION People who feel badly about themselves mistreat others. Where does ‘it’ come from? One way to end the ‘targeting’ of others is to recognize the shame and hurt within ourselves. Internalized oppression affects many groups of people: women, people of color, poor and working class people, people with disabilities, young people, Catholics, elders, Jews, immigrants, gay, lesbian, trans and many other groups.

Pairs: Recall your first experience with internalized oppression. What impact did it have on you? What impact does it have on you? How much thought do you think you have given to its power? How did you realize this record?

ASPECT OF THE NCBI MODEL “What I can’t stand about you ______ people.” “What I can’t stand about what –ism has done to _______”. What are significant differences between the 2 ways we ask participants to engage with this piece of the model? People who have a past hurt repeat it without understanding the full scope of the situation. When we recognize this, we are equipped to move forward with corrective action.

INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF OPPRESSION Leadership of Organization Unit Leadership Co-workers Committees etc. Social Planned activities is everyone welcomed? Who is at the table? Who is in the driver’s seat?

Pairs: Examine the ‘social’ conditioning that exists which leads to oppressive behavior from each group

WHAT CAN WE DO? Next time…..Notice! Act: ‘Help me understand the way you see things the way you do’ Listen: ‘…for the ouch’ Seize the moment: Look for the opportunity to effect change!

When people are left with only the shame or hurt (past history) they are more likely to repeat the cycle of oppressive behavior.

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom” -George Washington Carver Hope-”Of all the forces that make for a better world, none is so powerful as hope. With hope, one can think; one can work; one can dream. If you have hope, you have everything.” A need to ‘know’ more about our world and what is going on and how it impacts us is vital. We need a clearer perspective or else we will misunderstand much of what is happening to us and what can be done about it.