Anti-Oppression Flashcards
Oppression
Cambridge dictionary
“A situation in which people are governed in an unfair and cruel way and prevented from having opportunities in freedom”
Examples of systems of oppressions:
racism, ableism, ageism, Homophobia, sexism, ageism, ect
Oppression is:
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• Coercion
• Dictatorship
• Maltreatment
• Hierarchy
• Power
• Injustice
Four levels of oppression
• Ideological
•Institutional
• Interpersonal
• Internalized
Oppressor
An oppressor is a person or group of people that is treating another person or group of people cruelly or unfairly
Oppressive Behaviours
Oppressive behaviours can range from Cruel/Hurtful comments, Insults, threats and violence.
4 l’s of Oppression
• Ideological
•Institutional
•Interpersonal
• Internalized
Ideological Oppression
That one group is somehow better than another and in some measure has the right to control the other group. The dominant group believes that they are superior i.e( more deserving, more capable) and the opposite qualities are attributed to the other group i.e (inferior, lazy)
Institutional Oppression
The idea that one group gets to control the other group which then gets embedded into our legal system, education sector, laws, hiring policies, power etc.
• For example, when a woman makes less than a man doing the same job.
Interpersonal Oppression
The idea that one group is better than another and has the right to control the other, which gets structured into institutions,gives permission and reinforcement for individual members of the dominant group to personally disrespect or mistreat individuals in the oppressed group.
• For example, jokes that are racist/sexist etc.
Most people in the dominant group are not consciously oppressive, they have internalized information as normal
Internalized Oppression
Oppressed people internalize and reflect on their experience of disrespect from members of the dominant group, and they eventually come to internalize the negative messages about themselves. If we have been told we are worthless, abnormal, and have been treated as if we were all our lives, then we believe it.
5 Faces of Oppression:
- Exploitation
- Marginalization
- Powerlessness
- Cultural Imperialism
- Violence
Exploitation
The act of using people’s labours for profit while not paying a fair wage. This creates classes of people: wealthy and poor
Examples: Child labour, sweet shop, Sex trafficing
Marginalization
Treating a person or a group as insignificant, by confining them to a lower social standing.
This is a process of exclusion.
Example: older people not being employed because of their age,
Powerlessness
The powerless are dominated by the ruling class and are expected to take orders. They lack decision making process.
Example:
not voting because they believe their participation doesn’t matter anyway.
Cultural Imperialism
Is taking the culture of the ruling class and establishing it.
• Example: the spread of American culture during Globalization
Violence
Is an act that does not necessarily need a motive but likely to damage, humiliate, or destroy the person.
Example: older student hurting a younger student to establish power and dominance over them.
What do children need…
• They need to know that love and respect are universal concepts regardless of the language or where they were born from.
Characteristics of Oppression
Systemic
power imbalance
Denial
Systemic:
It is systemic and societal. It is not just individuals with prejudiced beliefs and actions, but rather is embedded within the structure of society.
Denial:
The powerful group often denies that oppression exists or accepts it as being normal or right.
Power Imbalance
It involves a dominant or more powerful group exploiting a less powerful group based on perceived differences between the groups.
There is always a power imbalance at play.
Overt forms of oppression are
open and observable, not secret or hidden. The target is very aware of the intention and action of the oppressive act, and of the oppressive person or group.
Covert forms of oppression
may be secret, hidden, and not openly practiced, or so subtle that they are not obvious, even to the intended target.
The person targeted may not even realize that an oppressive act has occurred until after the fact, nor be aware of who committed it.
Often, targets of covert forms of oppression may second guess themselves and their reactions to covert oppression.
Identity
What oppression
Who experiences oppression
Gender> sexism> women Trans gender
Race> Racism> people of colour
Class> classism> working class, ppl living in poverty
Ability> Ableism> people living with disabilities
Sexual Orientation> Heterosexism, Homophobia, Biphobia> people who are gay, lesbian, Bisexual
Age> Ageism> Children, youth, seniors
Nationality> Colonialism> Aboriginal ppl
> Nationalism> Permanent residents, people with temporary visas, sponsored. people with no status, refugee claimants, convention refugees
What is micro aggression?
Micro-aggression is subtle, everyday indirect discrimination against marginalized groups such as, Comments or behaviours that may be intentional or unintentional or go unnoticed by the person who uses them (Oxford Dictionary, n.d.).
Anti-Oppression
Anti-oppression is a framework that aims to end oppression by examining and challenging power dynamics while empowering those who experience oppression.
Anti-discriminatory Practice (ADP)
Is an approach which calls for people to be treated with respect and should not be treated badly or unfairly because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, impairment, class, religious belief or age. It also champions the implementation of policies that fight against discrimination
ADP Example:
implementing policies and codes of practice; staff selection and interviewing procedures comply with the Equality Act; staff development and training; mentoring; staff meetings;
Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP)
recognizes the oppression that exists in our society/space and aims to relieve the effects of oppression and eventually equalize the power imbalances that exist between people. It also recognizes that all forms of oppression are interconnected in some way, shape or form.
Three Levels of Anti-Oppression
Beginner- new to the term “anti-oppression” and “anti-bias
Ally- familiar with the concepts, you are willing to seek out more information, support others in their journey
Activist- working towards social justice through different organizations and institutions.
Paulo Freire
reminds us of the importance of reflection through his concept of ____
Praxis
Praxis refers to the following:
ACTION, PRACTICE: such as
a: exercise or practice of an art, science, or skill
b: customary practice or conduct
Reflection plus action =
change
Anti-Oppression
If we wish to be anti-oppressive, we need to:
•Respect and welcome Diversity
• Rid ourselves, as far as possible of stereotypes and prejudices through gaining accurate knowledge of people or groups that differ from us some aspect of identity
• Use any power and privilege we have to benefit people and not ‘wound’ them through social devaluation
• Work for communality sharing and equality
• Be aware of negative aspects of the Culture and structures of the society in which we live, and try to counteract them and change them
• Recognize the pervasiveness and seriousness of oppression in the world, and commit ourselves to positive action to remedy and prevent it
• Study first-hand accounts by those who experience oppression to understand its reality, nature and prevalence, and to gain authentic knowledge for tackling it.
What do children need
They need to know that love and respect are universal concepts regardless of the language or where they were born from.
Anti-Bias Education (ABE)
-is a commitment to support children who live in a highly diverse world
-it begins with early childhood education Including your interactions with families and colleagues
-is an understanding that children are their own Individual, based on the way they were raised and hov society views them
Four Core Goals of Anti-Bias Education
- IDENTITY
- DIVERSITY
- JUSTICE
- ACTIVISM
What are isms
A BIAS THAT CAN BE CONSCIOUS OR UNCONSCIOUS, THAT REINFORCES OPPRESSION AND INEQUITIES.
Equality
Equal treatment that brings about an equality of results and that may, in some instances, require different treatment. For example, to give all students equal treatment in entering a building, it may be necessary to provide a ramp for a student who uses a Wheelchair.
Equity
- Equality in access and outcomes and a distinct process of recognizing differences within groups of individuals, and using this understanding to achieve substantive equality in all aspects of a person’s life.
Systemic Barrier
- A barrier embedded in the social or administrative structures of an organization, Including the physical accessibility of an organization, organizational policies, practices and decision-making processes, or the culture of an organization.
Inclusion
- Appreciating and using our unique differences - strengths, talents, weaknesses and frailties - in a way that shows respect for the individual and ultimately creates a dynamic multidimensional organization.
Privilege
-Benefitting from unearned power, benefits, advantages, access and/or opportunities based on membership or perceived membership in a dominant group.
Bias
- A subjective opinion, preference, prejudice, or inclination, often formed without reasonable justification, which influences the ability of an individual or group to evaluate a particular situation objectively or accurately, Biases (particularly implicit biases) are built into and perpetuated by societal structures. These biases might be against others’ race, gender, weight, disability, sexuality, skin-tone, age, culture or religion.
Prejudice:
Is a favorable or unfavorable opinion or feeling about a person or group, usually formed without knowledge, thought or reason. It can be based on a single experience, which is then transferred to or assumed about all potential experiences.
prejudice Example:
if someone is taught to believe that a certain ethnic group has negative attributes, every negative act committed by someone in that group can be seen as confirming the prejudice.
Discrimination:
Consists of actions or unfair treatment against a group of people.
Discrimination can be based on race, ethnicity, age, religion, health etc.
Discrimination Examples:
You are asked at a job interview if you have children. When you tell the interviewer that you have four children, he makes a remark about you needing time off work if they’re sick and says you won’t be suitable for the position. (parental status, family responsibilities)
Prejudice and discrimination can _______ ________ ______in many ways.
overlap and Intersect
Unprejudiced non-discriminators are…
open-minded, tolerant, and accepting individuals.
Unprejudiced discriminators might be those who…
unthinkingly practice sexism in their workplace by not considering women or gender nonconforming people for certain positions that have traditionally been held by men.
Prejudiced non-discriminators are those who…
hold racist beliefs but don’t act on them, such as a racist store owner who serves minority customers.
Prejudiced discriminators include those who….
actively make disparaging remarks about others or who perpetuate hate crimes.
Racism:
Racism is a belief that humans can be divided into a hierarchy of power based on their differences in race and ethnicity. With some groups seen as superior to others on the sole basis of their racial or ethnic characteristics.
Racism is frequently expressed through prejudice and discrimination.
Ableism:
is a set of practices and beliefs that assign inferior value and worth to people who have developmental, emotional, physical or psychiatric disAbilities.
