Culture The of Respect Professor P Structure of Oppression Systems of oppression exist due to an unequal distribution of resources, power, and privilege. This can take the form of unequal access to education, jobs, housing, health care, media, politics, and the judicial system, to name a few. Within each system of oppression there exists an Included Group and an Excluded Group. The Included Group receives access to resources, power, and privilege based on their identity (male, heterosexual, able-bodied, etc.) while the Excluded Group is denied or given less access to these things based on their identity (female, homosexual, disabled, etc.). There also exists something known as the Middle Group dynamic within the structure of oppression. This is a group that may receive some privileges of the Included Group due to their identity, while at other times also being denied access because of the same identity. Middle Groups can also serve as a buffer between the Included and Excluded Groups. Not every system of oppression has a Middle Group. Some examples of Middle Groups can include: bi-sexuals in heterosexism, the middle class in Classism, and bi-racial people in Racism.
Included Group: Has control over and access to resources, information, institutions, and the mass media. Included Group members across many different identities can often exhibit the following characteristics, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors: Assume authority Assume ownership Don't listen Think Excluded / Middle Group individuals are all the same Group identity is important when convenient Set norms Resist change Need help to change Pretend to be respectful--liberal acceptance Feel as though they deserve everything Act out of pity Feel guilty for their privilege
Excluded Group: Has significantly less or no control over--as well as limited or no access to--resources, information, institutions, and the mass media. Excluded Group members across many different identities can often exhibit the following characteristics, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors: Feel the need to rank oppressions Learn helplessness
Feel the need to conform to the Included Group Value separate, safe space Carry Included Group expectations and beliefs into their own community Have delusions of dominance Create new boundaries Feel angry, bitter, sad Lump all Included Group members together Feel immune to other isms Connect with other oppressed people
Middle Group: A group that may receive some privileges of the Included Group due to their identity, while at other times be denied access because of the same identity. Middle Groups can also serve as a buffer between the Included and Excluded Groups. Not every system of oppression has a Middle Group. In the buffer role, Middle Groups receive some access, but often have no real control over resources. They can become the face of the oppressor and receive blame for oppressing the Group. Excluded Middle Groups are often seen by Excluded Group members as belonging to the Included Group. Middle Group members across many different identities can often exhibit the following characteristics, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors: Try to pass as a member of the Included Group Deny a part of themselves in order to be accepted by members of the Excluded Group Feel like they don't belong anywhere Deny their privilege Don't think that oppression affects them Feel guilty for having more access than the Excluded Group Are reluctant to bring up their issues for fear of diverting attention from the struggles of the Excluded Group Feel the need to act as a bridge between Included and Excluded Group members
Four Levels of Oppression So how exactly are human beings dehumanized by systems of oppression? There are four levels on which we see the misinformation, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, fear, and violence that fuel oppression affecting human beings. Oppression can be a completely internalized experience within one individual or it can be on the global level of institutions whose practices and policies affect millions. Personal: This is oppression that occurs within an individual--their thoughts, feelings, self-esteem, and sense of self-worth. Examples of personal oppression could include developing eating disorders due to unattainable standards of beauty set by the media, or giving up on education because you believe you are "stupid" due to a learning disability. Interpersonal: This is oppression that occurs between two people--the interplay between their assumptions, stereotypes, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors. Examples of interpersonal oppression could include a husband who beats his w...