Oppression: Difference between revisions
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'''Oppression '''is ''"the social act of placing severe restrictions on an individual group, or institution. Typically, a government or political organization in power places restrictions formally or covertly on oppressed groups so they may be exploited and less able to compete with other social groups. The oppressed individual or group is devalued, exploited, and deprived of privileges by the individual or group who has more power." - ''Phil Barker <ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/oppression</ref> | '''Oppression '''is ''"the social act of placing severe restrictions on an individual group, or institution. Typically, a government or political organization in power places restrictions formally or covertly on oppressed groups so they may be exploited and less able to compete with other social groups. The oppressed individual or group is devalued, exploited, and deprived of privileges by the individual or group who has more power." - ''Phil Barker <ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/oppression</ref> | ||
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Moreover, "''oppression may arise not just because society actively seeks to disadvantage some groups of people but rather because of the effects of societal norms, laws and unchallenged assumptions" - ''Ruth Northway <ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/oppression</ref> | |||
<p><span style="">Oppression is</span><span style=""> unjust imbalances </span>of ''<span style="">power and [[privilege]] that formed historically, have been institutionally entrenched and continue to be perpetuated over time due to </span>'''<span style="">systems of domination ([[colonialism]], [[capitalism]], [[white supremacy]] etc.)</span>'''''</p> | |||
<span style="">Fundamentally, </span>''<span style="">certain groups in our society and communities hold power over others because of their membership in those</span>''<span style=""> groups. </span><sup class="reference"></sup><span style="">We call systems of domination </span>'''<span style="">systems of oppression</span>'''<span style=""> when we focus on the imbalances they have created. <ref>Stephanie Jeremie, La Forge</ref> </span><p><sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"></sup></p><p><br><span style="">There is a </span>'''<span style="">historical domination</span>'''<span style=""> of certain groups over others </span><span style="">which continues to be perpetuated thanks to the institutions (banks, state law, police, etc.) that they have put in place. </span><span style="">These are oppressive in the ideology and practices forming their basis.</span></p><p><br><span style="">“</span>''<span style="">If you look at the demographics of CEOs in big business, city councils, parliaments, etc., you will notice that most, if not all, of these positions of power are held by (publicly heterosexual) white men. </span><span style="">Conversely, if you looked at the demographics of janitorial staff or fast food workers, you would find that these positions are filled largely by people of colour." -</span>''Stephanie Jeremie, La Forge''<span style=""><br></span>''<sup class="reference"></sup></p> | |||
== Examples of Oppression == | |||
The following illustrations from [https://marypendergreene.com/bookshelf/oppression-olympics/ Mary Pender Green] outline several examples of forms of oppression. Please also see our definitions page for [[marginalization]] for examples of marginalized groups. | |||
For more examples of oppression and how they intersect, see our definitions page on [[intersectionality]]. | |||
== Other resources == | |||
[https://marypendergreene.com/bookshelf/oppression-olympics/ Oppression Olympics (term used when two or more groups compete to prove that they are more oppressed than others)] | |||
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[https://sites.oxy.edu/ron/csp19/2010/BTOO%20Chapter%201.PDF Solidarity Politics for Millennials: A Guide to Ending the Oppression Olympics] | |||
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Latest revision as of 18:59, 25 November 2022
Oppression is "the social act of placing severe restrictions on an individual group, or institution. Typically, a government or political organization in power places restrictions formally or covertly on oppressed groups so they may be exploited and less able to compete with other social groups. The oppressed individual or group is devalued, exploited, and deprived of privileges by the individual or group who has more power." - Phil Barker [1]
Moreover, "oppression may arise not just because society actively seeks to disadvantage some groups of people but rather because of the effects of societal norms, laws and unchallenged assumptions" - Ruth Northway [2]
Oppression is unjust imbalances of power and privilege that formed historically, have been institutionally entrenched and continue to be perpetuated over time due to systems of domination (colonialism, capitalism, white supremacy etc.)
Fundamentally, certain groups in our society and communities hold power over others because of their membership in those groups. We call systems of domination systems of oppression when we focus on the imbalances they have created. [3]
There is a historical domination of certain groups over others which continues to be perpetuated thanks to the institutions (banks, state law, police, etc.) that they have put in place. These are oppressive in the ideology and practices forming their basis.
“If you look at the demographics of CEOs in big business, city councils, parliaments, etc., you will notice that most, if not all, of these positions of power are held by (publicly heterosexual) white men. Conversely, if you looked at the demographics of janitorial staff or fast food workers, you would find that these positions are filled largely by people of colour." -Stephanie Jeremie, La Forge
Examples of Oppression
The following illustrations from Mary Pender Green outline several examples of forms of oppression. Please also see our definitions page for marginalization for examples of marginalized groups.
For more examples of oppression and how they intersect, see our definitions page on intersectionality.
Other resources
Solidarity Politics for Millennials: A Guide to Ending the Oppression Olympics
If you have any suggested revisions or additional resources to share related to the above content, please email them to kenzie@lehub.ca.
