Theories of Power & Oppression

Question 1

Define “Power Over”

Answer 1

• How institutions maintain power

- How power is unequally distributed

Question 2

What are the two kinds of “Power Over”?

Answer 2

Elitism, & Structural Power Over

Question 3

Define “Elitism”

Answer 3

• Power distributed unequally
• Society based on natural hierarchy
• It is functional, we need it in society
• Organized structure
• Create structure in society that create leaders
• Natural

Question 4

Define “Structural Power Over”

Answer 4

• Essentially pre-decided

- Capitalism, certain people will assume more power than others

Question 5

What were some of the main points made by Michael Foucault?

Answer 5

• We can never step outside of power
• Can’t take away power
• Power isn’t a thing, it is constantly negotiated
• Power produces us as people, our needs, wants, and our abilities
• Power regulates the way we think, and function
• We think and act depending what is produced in society
• Conditioned to want what is normal (If i had a medical condition, a sense of relief will be when the doc says “its normal”)
• NEED TO BE CRITICAL OF WHAT WE THINK IS NORMAL
• Power works through us, conditions why we do certain things
• His way of thinking of power is more detailed on how society actually works

Question 6

Define “Sovereignty”

Answer 6

• The absolute power over what happens in specific land
• No one can tell you what to do in nation state
• Specific territory
• ULTIMATE AUTHORITY, can kill its own citizens

Question 7

Define “Authority”

Answer 7

“Socially approved power”

• People believe that persons in power should be in power
• People believing in it
• If you lose AUTHOURATIVE POWER, you essentially could lose SOVERIGNTY in a way (Coups, takeovers etc)
• Structuralists argue that authourative power maintains itself

Question 8

What are the three kinds of “Authourative Power”?

Answer 8

1. Traditional
2. Charismatic
3. Legal-Rational

Question 9

Define “Traditional” Authourative Power

Answer 9

-Gain power through custom or hereditary

Question 10

Define “Charasmatic” Authourative Power

Answer 10

• Gain authority w popularity in public

- Come at times of chrisis (EX. Hitler)

Question 11

Define “Legal-Rational” Authourative Power

Answer 11

Authourity based on rule of law.

-Courts, constitutions, legislators

Question 12

What is Political Science?

Answer 12

“The push and pull of conflict and consensus means that political life is always moving in directions that we can never fully anticipate” (Brodie 2012,3)

Question 13

What is a Social Group?

Answer 13

• Not simply a collection of people
• Members gave shared characteristics but also a shared sense of identity
• Share a common history
• Share a common social status
• Shared relationships w external groups
• Characteristics of a social group are determined internally and externally
• Basically a better way to categorize people, beliefs, etc.

EX. Women, LGBT, Foreign, Elderly

Question 14

What are some of Iris Marion Young Oppression theory basic points?

Answer 14

• We may not recognize forms of oppressions in our society

- Its easy to deny oppression because you don’t face it yourself and are not affected

Question 15

What are the “Five Faces of Oppression”?

Answer 15

1. Exploitation
2. Marginalization
3. Powerlessness
4. Cultural Imperialism
5. Violence

Question 16

Define “Power To”

Answer 16

• Power to do something
• As a group, individually
• Essentially the power to do what you want

Question 17

Define “Exploitation” 5 Faces of Oppression

Answer 17

• Historically social groups with low paying jobs and don’t benefit as much
• Social group of people treated differently
• Act of using peoples labor to generate profit while not paying them properly
• Poorer get poorer, richer get richer
• Exploitation creates a system that perpetuates class difference

EX: Women perform 78% of unpaid labor, sweatshops, etc

Question 18

Define “Marginalization” 5 Faces of Oppression?

Answer 18

-Is the act of relegating or confining a group of people to a lower social standing or outer limit or edge of society
-Deeming a social group “less than”
-Excluding social group from social realm
-Social groups do not have their needs met
-Canada was found on marginalization (Women, Natives to vote etc)
-Marginalization in a way is worse than exploitation because at least in exploitation they are given jobs unlike marginalization
-Essentially exclusion from society
EX: Old people not being able to find jobs after being fired, native ppl not being able to find their first job

Question 19

Define “Powerlessness” 5 Faces of Oppression

Answer 19

-Powerlessness are those who lack authourity
-Powerlessness is the strongest force of oppression because it allows people to oppress themselves
-Oppressed people become so powerless that they don’t even talk about their oppression (Culture of silence)
-In the us, the powerless do not believe their participation makes a difference (Voting etc)
EX: Slaves were so powerless that some probably didn’t even think that they were being treated unfairly

Question 20

What is it called to free yourself of oppression?

Answer 20

Conscientization

Question 21

Define “Cultural Imperialism” 5 Forces of Oppression

Answer 21

• Rendering marginalized groups deviant, if they dare to challenge the universality of the DOMINANT GROUP
• If you demonize a social group they are less likely to speak (Invisibility)
• INVOLVES TAKING THE CULTURE OF THE RULING CLASS AND MAKING IT THE “NORM”
• English is the dominant language therefor other languages are looked down on
• Heterosexuality is considered “normal” so everything else is looked down on

Question 22

Define “Violence” 5 Faces of Oppression

Answer 22

• Violence is systematic
• Violence is occurring between social groups
• Violence as: Normalized, expected, part of daily life
• Members of some groups live with the fear of possible attacks, whether its random, unprovoked on them or on their personal property
• Attacks are meant to damage, humiliate, or destroy the person
• Hate crime on blacks, jews, gay men etc.

Question 23

Define “Xenophobia”

Answer 23

An intense and irrational fear of people, ideas, or customs that seem strange or foreign.