1. Implications of Race, Class, and Oppression
Social Work 840
Implications of Race, Class, and Oppression
Intro Part 2

2. Define social group
A group of people who share a range of physical, cultural, or social characteristics within one of the categories of social identity.

3. Categories of social identity
Gender
Class
Sexual Orientation
PhysicaI/Developmental/PsychologicaI
Disability
Race
Religion
Age

4. Group memberships Gender: Female, Male, Transgendered people Race:
Black, White, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander,
Native American, Biracial

5. Sexual Orientation:
Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Heterosexual
Religion:
Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu
Ethnicity:
African American, Cuban, English, Chinese, Sioux

6. Class:
Poor, Working Class, Middle Class, Upper Class
Age:
Young People, Young Adults, Middle-Aged Adults, Old People

7. Activities
Identity sheet
Social Group membership activity

8. Complete individual profile. Please choose a partner and discuss
Which of your social group memberships were easiest to identify?
Which of your social group memberships were most difficult to identify?
What questions are raised for you in trying to identify your social group memberships?

9. Racism Racism is a form of Oppression
One of the outcomes of Institutional Racism was “Lynchings.”

10. Since 1859 between 2400 – 3800 Blacks have been lynched in the U.S.
DISTURBING PHOTOS
Since 1859 between 2400 – 3800 Blacks have been lynched in the U.S.
Rarely has anyone ever been convicted for the lynching of a black human being in the United States. The last recorded lynching was in 1981.

11. Lynching carried out by a mob in Marion, Ind., in 1930.

16. lynching memorabilla

17. Defining Features of Oppression
Power – oppression is about power
To enforce a world view
To deny equal access
To deny housing, education, jobs, healthcare
To maim physically, mentally, emotionally

18. "Isms": Shared and Distinctive Characteristics:
There is explanatory and political value in identifying both the particular characteristics of specific forms of oppression such as ableism or classism, as well as the patterns that connect and mutually reinforce different oppressions

19. Oppression is manifested through racism, sexism, classism, ableism, and heterosexism, religion and the dimensions of experience that connect "isms" in an overarching system of domination

20. Racism
Racism is about outcomes or results and not about intent.

21. As Audre Lorde so eloquently states, "the true focus of revolutionary change is to see the piece of the oppressor inside us" (1984, 123).

22. Culture
The thoughts, ideas, behavior patterns, customs, values, skills, language, arts, and faith or religion of a particular people at a given point in time.
Defines us as individuals; it makes us who we are.
Influences how each of us sees others.
Communities have different cultures influenced by their members, the environment, and socioeconomic conditions.

23. Cycle of Socialization

25. Lens of Identity Born into the world with no worldview
No blame or guilt
No prejudices, biases, stereotypes
No history, tradition or habits

26. Socialized Taught on a personal level by
Parents, relatives, teachers – people we love, respect and trust.
They shape our expectations, norms, values, roles, rules, models of behavior, sources of aspirations

27. Lens of socialization and teaching
Reinforced - bombarded with messages
Institutions – churches, schools, television, legal system, mental health, businesses
Culture – practices, lyrics, language, media, patterns of thought

28. On Conscious and unconscious levels
Enforced, Sanctioned and Stigmatized
Rewards and Punishments
Privilege and Persecution
Discrimination and Empowerment

29. Lens of Experience Resulting in – Dissonance, silence, anger,
Dehumanization, guilt, collusion, ignorance, self-hatred, stress, lack of reality, violence, inconsistency, crime, internalization of patterns of power

30. Leads to Do nothing, don’t make waves, promotes the status quo or
Change, raise consciousness, interrupt
Educate
Take a stand
Question
Reframe