oppression definition

Introduction

Oppression may be related to a wide variety of attributes such as race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, language, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, socio-economic status, educational level, disabilities, physical appearance, homelessness, political affiliation, immigration status, etc. These types of oppression are often described by the affected attribute: racism, sexism, ageism, classism, homophobia, religious intolerance, etc.

Oppression may take place at the individual, group, institutional or systemic level. Individual and group oppression tends to be more readily recognized and, if too blatant, may be condemned by some members of the dominant group, especially when oppressive treatment is intentional. Institutional and systemic oppression tends to be “invisible” and unchallenged by the members of the dominant group. This is often unintentional and unseen by the dominant group, yet pervasive.

Oppression operates to the advantage of the dominant group and to the disadvantage of the oppressed group. Some members of the dominant group may intentionally seek to maximize their advantages, while others may passively accept the advantages and not even recognize them as such. The advantages provided to the dominant group may take a variety of forms, e.g., economic benefits passed from one generation to the next, access to better education and employment opportunities, political power, control of institutions and resources, social status, moral authority, etc.

Oppression is distinct from a situation of simple random force. It is not just a set of beliefs that reinforces the idea of one group’s superiority over another. Oppression refers to a social structure that involves the unilateral domination and control of one group by a more powerful group, which uses physical, social, economic or psychological constraints or sanctions, either intentionally and/or unintentionally.   

These constraints and sanctions are built into the institutions of our society as policies, practices and attitudes. These are often invisible, but definitely result in unequal treatment, access and opportunity for individuals because of their identification with a certain group and/or their particular characteristics. It is enough to be perceived as part of a certain group; actual membership is not required.

Some examples of institutional constraints include the unequal and unjust distribution of legal rights, wealth, income and social status; stereotypical expectations; and norms and conventions that operate to the disadvantage of the non-dominant group. These unequal and unjust institutional constraints enable the dominant group to maintain power and privilege and, at the same time, to keep those outside of the dominant group in an inferior or submissive position. Thus, the domination of one group over another is made to appear logical, natural and acceptable.

As a result, oppression creates a system which exploits, excludes and restricts individuals because of their (perceived) belonging to a non-dominant or marginalized group. This, in turn, systematically imposes barriers, hardship and injustices on these individuals, placing them in a subordinate position to others (either as individuals or as a group).

Oppression is justified by the dominant group’s beliefs, doctrines, laws and culture. In the case of sexual orientation, for instance, these justifications may include the “sanctity of traditional marriage,” “homosexuality as a sin or unnatural act,” and a myriad of laws that give benefits to heterosexual couples that are denied to same-sex partners. Within the lifetime of many people still alive today, similar justifications were cited to discourage or prohibit interracial relationships.

Oppression is ultimately sustained by the threat or use of force. In extreme cases, this force may take violent forms, such as mob action, torture, lynching or the wholesale extermination of the oppressed group. In relatively open societies, these extreme measures are likely to be condemned even by members of the dominant group. At the same time, “lesser” forms of force/violence, e.g. differential arrest, conviction and imprisonment rates; drug or prostitution free zones; the threat of violence based on homophobia; the targeting of immigrants or people of a certain religion as potential terrorists, etc., may go unnoticed or even be applauded.

Oppression may be overt and blatant, as in the case of hate crimes. Oppression may be covert and subtle, as in the case of hiring practices that may appear to be “objective” on the surface, but which actually reward those in the dominant group while restricting opportunities for those who are oppressed. Oppression may be the cumulative weight of daily “minor” instances of oppression that persist throughout a lifetime and can weigh people down just as much as overt and blatant oppression. The media and popular attention tend to focus on blatant examples of oppression, and the pervasive, “invisible” and unchallenged oppression that exists throughout our society is seldom examined.

Public Policy Statement on Oppression:

Oppression is the dominance of one group over another, resulting in hardship and injustice.