1. Overarching Oppression

2. Social oppression is…
An interlocking force that involves domination and control of social ideology, resources available in society.
The social act of placing severe restrictions on an individual, group, or institution
Refers to inhumane or degrading treatment of a group or individual.

3. Labels Oppressors – privileged, advantaged, dominant
Oppressed groups – targeted, victims, disadvantaged, subordinate

4. Key Features of Oppression
Pervasive and Systematic - widespread
Severe Consequences for all – All are trapped
Power based – System maintains an imbalance or power
Persistent - prevailing over time and across places
Restrictive - constraints due to life chances

5. Structures of Oppression (Young, 1990)
Five Faces of Oppression
Exploitation -
Marginalization
Powerlessness
Cultural domination
Violence.

6. MATRIX OF OPPRESSION Social Identity Categories
Privileged Social Groups
Border Social Groups
Targeted Social Groups
Ism
Race
White People
Biracial People (White/Latino, Black, Asian)
Asian, Black, Latino, Native People
Racism
Sex
Bio Men
Transsexual, Intersex People
Bio Women
Sexism
Gender
Gender Conforming Bio Men And Women
Gender Ambiguous Bio Men and Women
Transgender, Genderqueer, Intersex People
Transgender Oppression
Sexual Orientation
Heterosexual People
Bisexual People
Lesbians, Gay Men
Heterosexism
Class
Rich, Upper Class People
Middle Class People
Working Class, Poor People
Classism
Ability/Disability
Temporarily Abled-Bodied People
People with Temporary Disabilities
People with Disabilities
Ableism
Religion
Protestants
Roman Catholic (historically)
Jews, Muslims, Hindus
Religious Oppression
Age
Adults
Young Adults
Elders, Young People
Ageism/Adultism

7. Manifestations of Oppression

8. Multiple Levels: Four I’s
Individualized
Interpersonal Group
Institutional / Systemic
Ideological / Cultural
All these levels operate intentionally & unintentionally;
consciously & unconsciously
Source: Soest & Garcia, 2003

9. Dynamics for Maintaining Oppression

10. Vertical Dynamics of Oppression
Advantaged
Interactions that maintain and reinforce oppression
Actions by a targeted group against a member of advantaged group are more complicated and not equivalent
Advantaged
Targeted (prejudice)
Targeted

11. Horizontal Dynamics of Oppression
Targeted to targeted. Divide and conquer within groups of oppressed people Advantaged to Advantaged. Rewards given to those who actively support or passively accept the oppressive system
Advantaged
Advantaged
Targeted
Targeted

12. Internalized Dynamics of Oppression
Internalized Domination. Advantaged group accept their group’s socially superior status as normal and deserved.
Internalized Subordination. Targeted groups internalize dominant social messages of inferiority about their group.
Advantaged
Targeted
To Self
To Self

13. Costs of Oppression
Men ignore health care needs, hide feelings, depression; White men have higher suicide
Lack of access to medical care
High infant mortality rates
Increased high school dropout, declining college attendance
High unemployment
High poverty rates
Differing forms of oppression are closely related – if poor> in illness/impairments, disability.

14. Source: Cycle of Socialization developed by Bobbie Harro