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Terms: Oppression,
Oppression
Phonetic Pronunciation: uh-PRESH-uhn
Definition:
Systemic social inequity perpetuated across multiple social institutions through discriminatory practices and biases, resulting in unjust treatment and marginalization of targeted groups
History:
First known was in the 14th century, with oppression being seen as the unjust exercise of power over another. It was later expanded upon through the rhetoric of 19th and 20th century theorists such as Marx and Kimberlé Crenshaw, who emphasized the interconnectedness of multiple systems of oppression, including, but not limited to, class, religion and race.
Current Usage:
Today, [Systems of] Oppression is used in academic and activist spaces to describe how inequality is maintained in multiple societal spheres, including law, education, healthcare, and media. It is typically used when referring to issues including, but not limited to racism, sexism and economic inequality.
Examples:
A situational example: An Indigenous community lacks access to clean drinking water due to historical underfunding and neglect, resulting in health issues in the community.
A sentence example: Systems of oppression continue to shape access to social opportunities.
Perspective:
Systems of oppression are understood, particularly in the context of Indigenous, civil and womens rights, to be the lasting impacts of both official and unofficial policies, in which historical practices and systems continue to perpetuate present-day inequalities in regards to accessing opportunities, health and wealth.
Many modern online critics argue that systems of oppression are no longer relevant, and that the continuous disadvantages faced by marginalized groups are the result of individual choice.
Did You Know?
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Irish immigrants were not considered “white” in North America and faced discrimination at the hands of dominant groups like White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs).
Sources:
Resources:
How oppression is rooted in the system