1. Analyzing Internalized Oppression Manifested in Irene in Passing
By Diogo, Ryan, and Isaiah

2. Notion and Definition of Internalized Oppression
Internalized Oppression- When people are constantly judged and treated differently based on their looks and how they act. In their head they start to feel a sense of oppression that lingers with them overtime.

3. Internalized Oppression Within Irene (Evidence)
Race
“Did that women, could that women, somehow know that here before her very eyes on the roof of the Drayton sat a Negro?”...”Nevertheless, Irene felt, in turn, anger, scorn, and fear slide over her. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of being a Negro, or even of having it declared. It was the idea of being ejected from any place, even in the polite and tactful way in which the Drayton would probably do it, that disturbed her” (Larson, pt 1, ch 2).
“Her indignation was not lessened by Clare's flattering reference to her wiseness. As if, she thought wrathfully, anything could take away the humiliation, or any part of it, of what she had gone through yesterday afternoon for Clare Kendry” (Larson, pt 1, ch 4).
Society
“I don't agree. I want their childhood to be happy and as free from the knowledge of such things as it possibly can be.”...“I wanted to get them out of this hellish place years ago. You wouldn't let me. I gave up the idea, because you objected. Don't expect me to give up everything” (Larson, pt 3, ch 4).
Irene feels her internalized oppression as she thinks about the many things in her life that deals with race, society, and her family. She has her own opinion that is strong and she knows the experiences of blacks. She constantly is reminded of things in her life as she feels angry and worries often about the things going on in her life.
These 3 quotes accurately represent the struggle as she knows the stereotypes
First Quote (after fainted and drinking her tea realizes whites staring at her. First thing that comes to mind)
Thoughts linger in her mind because she knows she is black and it is stereotypical
It just disturbed her and doesn’t want to go through it
Thoughts
Second
Irene couldn’t stand to the fact that Clare isn’t loyal to her race and is in fact disrespected
She doesn’t want to go through that
Withhold emotions
Deals with the internalized oppression of her race in what she has to go through knowing her best friend is married to racist
Third
Irene want to protect them in their lifestyles and outside world
Irene has her views and her own opinion on how things should be
Talk about lynching at dinner table
Brian says that they didn’t want them to know word nigger but found out because someone called Junior one
Irene says should move to brazil so wouldn’t have to go through this
Anger and fear
Prepare children for experience, safe environment
All goes back to idea that these experiences and things that she sees carrys on with her

4. Conclusion about the the author's intentions
The time period of Passing is the 1920’s and this is a time period with a lot of racism in America. Irene is one of the main characters and she is of mixed race. The author, Nella Larsen, is using Irene as an example of one of the many people during this time period who are unable to express who they really are. Larsen’s descriptive imagery allows the reader to see, to a greater depth, Irene’s injustices imposed on her by society. Due to fear of people around Irene finding out that she is mixed race, she does not tell most people that she is partly black, because being considered black is inferior and her social status would be weakened.
Along with the racism, Irene also suffers some internalized oppression from being a woman. Her husband often does not treat with very much respect and does listen to her very much because she is a woman. This makes Irene feel small and makes her wonder if woman are weaker. That is certainly the way things are portrayed in society. Throughout the novel Irene is the victim of society's values and not her own, and that is what the author wants us to understand and change.