Module 2 - Anzovino Ch 2 - Forms of Oppression

Question 1

What was the goal of the women’s suffrage movement in Canada?

Answer 1

To address equity, justice, and human rights by fighting for political rights (voting, running for office), access to education, better healthcare, and an end to violence against women and children.

Question 2

When did women gain the right to vote in federal elections in Canada?

Answer 2

In 1918.

Question 3

Who were the “Famous Five,” and what was the “Persons Case”?

Answer 3

The “Famous Five”: Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, and Henrietta Muir Edwards.

The “Persons Case”: A legal battle to have women recognized as “persons” under Canadian law for Senate eligibility, which was won in 1929.

Question 4

What was the purpose of the Women’s March Global movement in 2017?

Answer 4

To defend women’s rights, equality, diversity, and inclusion against the rise of far-right populism.

Question 5

What are the five faces of oppression according to Iris Young (1990)?

Answer 5

Exploitation: Unfair use of labor without fair compensation.

Marginalization: Exclusion of minority groups to society’s fringes.

Powerlessness: Denial of rights and privileges, fostering a “culture of silence.”

Cultural Imperialism: Imposition of dominant group norms and values.

Violence: Physical harm, fear of attacks, or stigmatization through harassment and intimidation.

Question 6

What are the key elements of critical social theory for ending oppression?

Answer 6

Awareness of oppression for envisioning liberation.

Recognition of oppression as structural.

Empowerment for individual and collective agency.

Avoiding liberation through oppressing others.

Question 7

How do power dynamics contribute to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination?

Answer 7

Power imbalances allow dominant groups to impose beliefs on minorities, leading to unfair treatment and the creation of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.

Question 8

What are stereotypes, and why are they problematic?

Answer 8

Stereotypes are generalized beliefs about a group.

They oversimplify complex realities and ignore individual differences, often leading to unfair assumptions and perpetuation of myths.

Question 9

What role does media play in creating stereotypes?

Answer 9

Media perpetuates stereotypes by using overgeneralized, value-laden images that influence societal norms and young minds.

Question 10

How do Disney movies contribute to gender stereotypes?

Answer 10

Disney movies often portray males as heroic and strong, while females are valued for beauty, are helpless, and focus on marriage and domestic roles.

Question 11

How is prejudice different from stereotypes?

Answer 11

Prejudice involves prejudging with a negative emotional component, often leading to discriminatory behavior, whereas stereotypes are generalized beliefs.

Question 12

What is ethnocentrism, and how does it relate to prejudice?

Answer 12

Ethnocentrism is assuming one’s culture is superior and using it as a standard to judge others, often leading to prejudice.

Question 13

Define ableism and its impact.

Answer 13

Ableism assigns inferior status to individuals with disabilities, leading to discrimination in areas like hiring, promotion, and accommodation.

Question 14

What is ageism, and what are some examples?

Answer 14

Ageism is prejudice or discrimination based on age.

Examples: Stereotyping seniors as fragile or young people as undisciplined, or denying opportunities based on age.

Question 15

What is ethnocentrism, and how does it relate to prejudice?

Answer 15

Ethnocentrism assumes one’s culture is superior and uses it as the standard to judge others, often resulting in prejudice.

Question 16

Define ableism and its societal impact.

Answer 16

Ableism is the prejudice against individuals with disabilities, leading to discrimination in employment, education, and social interactions.

Question 17

What is ageism, and how does it manifest?

Answer 17

Ageism is prejudice or discrimination based on age, often targeting seniors as incapable or young people as inexperienced, affecting opportunities and representation.

Question 18

What is classism?

Answer 18

Classism is the systemic oppression of subordinate classes by dominant classes, often based on assumptions about intelligence, worth, and behavior tied to socioeconomic status.

Question 19

What is heterosexism, and how does it affect society?

Answer 19

Heterosexism is the belief in the superiority of heterosexuality, leading to discrimination and oppression of non-heterosexual identities and relationships.

Question 20

How is racism defined, and what role does social construction play?

Answer 20

Racism asserts the supremacy of one group over others, using socially constructed labels of race to justify exclusion, privilege, and oppression.

Question 21

What is sizeism, and what are its societal consequences?

Answer 21

Sizeism is prejudice based on body size, leading to discrimination in employment, education, healthcare, and negative media portrayals.

Question 22

What is discrimination?

Answer 22

Discrimination is the unequal treatment of individuals or groups based on characteristics or behaviors, often resulting from prejudice and stereotypes.

Question 23

What does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982) guarantee regarding discrimination?

Answer 23

It guarantees equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability.

Question 24

What are the seven discriminatory practices prohibited by the Canadian Human Rights Act?

Answer 24

Denying goods, services, facilities, or accommodation.

Adverse treatment in providing goods or services.

Unfair employment practices.

Policies excluding opportunities for jobs.

Unequal pay for work of the same value.

Retaliation against complaints to Human Rights Commissions.

Harassment based on protected grounds.

Question 25

What is the “duty to accommodate” under the Canadian Human Rights Act?

Answer 25

Employers and service providers must make accommodations for individuals to ensure equitable participation, except where it causes undue hardship.

Question 26

What is undue hardship?

Answer 26

Circumstances where accommodating someone imposes significant costs or health and safety issues that fundamentally alter the nature of the service or business.

Question 27

What is the difference between direct and indirect discrimination?

Answer 27

Direct discrimination: Overt and intentional unfair treatment based on protected characteristics.

Indirect discrimination: Neutral policies or practices that unintentionally disadvantage protected groups.

Question 28

What is systemic discrimination?

Answer 28

Policies, practices, and behaviors of institutions that appear neutral but have discriminatory effects on individuals based on protected characteristics.

Question 29

Give an example of systemic discrimination in hiring practices.

Answer 29

Applicants with English-sounding names receive more callbacks than those with foreign-sounding names, even when qualifications are identical.

Question 30

What are examples of unintentional discrimination?

Answer 30

Older buildings without wheelchair ramps.

Standardized job tests with cultural biases.

Question 31

What is an example of direct discrimination?

Answer 31

A landlord refusing to rent to an Indigenous person while renting to a Caucasian individual under similar circumstances.

Question 32

What is an example of indirect discrimination?

Answer 32

A workplace dress code that unintentionally disadvantages individuals who wear religious head coverings.

Question 33

Why is anti-oppressive practice described as multidimensional?

Answer 33

It addresses oppression at personal, cultural, and structural levels simultaneously for meaningful change.

Question 34

What is the starting point of the human liberation process, according to Anne Bishop?

Answer 34

It begins with breaking the silence, ending shame, and sharing concerns and feelings, which leads to analysis, strategy, and action in a spiraling process.

Question 35

What role does silence play in perpetuating oppression?

Answer 35

Silence allows privilege and oppression to continue unchallenged.

Question 36

How does Anne Bishop define an ally?

Answer 36

An ally recognizes their unearned privilege from societal patterns of injustice and takes responsibility for changing those patterns.

Question 37

What are some key characteristics of allies?

Answer 37

Recognizing privilege.

Understanding oppression as a structural issue.

Taking responsibility without guilt.

Supporting and not leading the oppressed group’s liberation efforts.

Question 38

What does transformative change require to challenge oppression?

Answer 38

Reflecting critically on inclusive thoughts and actions.

Increasing awareness of assumptions and prejudices.

Unmasking misinformation.

Actively challenging privilege and oppression.

Question 39

What is “power with” versus “power over”?

Answer 39

“Power with” focuses on collaboration and shared empowerment, while “power over” involves domination and control.

Question 40

How should allies handle defensive reactions when their oppressive attitudes are pointed out?

Answer 40

Allies should listen, ask questions, and focus on learning rather than self-defense.

Question 41

What are some traps allies should avoid?

Answer 41

Acting out of guilt.

Claiming to know what is best for the oppressed group.

Taking a leadership role instead of supporting the group’s leadership.

Question 42

What should members of an oppressed group remember when working with allies?

Answer 42

Allies are vulnerable and taking risks; kindness, clarity, and support are important in maintaining collaboration.