Understanding Privilege Oppression Privilege A special right advantage

Understanding Privilege & Oppression

Privilege A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group Ø Used on the context of social inequality Ø Having more comfort, ability to access society than others = privilege Ø Can be held on the basis of any form of social identity Ø l Typically associated with majority groups

Privilege “…unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was ‘meant’ to remain oblivious… like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks. ” -- Peggy Mc. Intosh

“Check your Privilege” Ø A term used to bring awareness to potential hidden advantages that might skew perspectives Ø Important to be aware of one’s own access to society – not everyone enjoys the same access/comforts based on their identity Ø Unchecked privileges can lead to social issues and inequality

Systematic Oppression Ø Embedded in institutions such as: media, family, religion, education, language, economics, criminal justice and in cultural definitions of what is normal, real, correct, beautiful and valuable. Ø Socially sanctioned and maintains an imbalance of power

Social Oppression exists when one group exploits another for its own benefits and key elements are present: 1. Dominant group defines what is normal, 2. Differential treatment, 3. Psychological colonization of target group leads to internalized oppression, 4. Target group’s culture is discounted and dominant group’s culture imposed.

Dominant vs. Subordinate Dominant, Oppressor: Subordinate, Target: Ø Access to power Ø Disadvantaged Ø Economic control Ø Categorized Ø Provide standards, “norms” Ø Differential treatment Ø Lack power and influence Ø Privilege

TECHNIQUES of DOMINANCE: 1. Stereotypes Ø Mental images that are overly simplistic and exaggerated generalizations about social groups; Ø Selective generalizations that attribute specific traits to groups – not necessarily true; Ø May be used to spread misinformation and stigmatize a subordinate group

2. Prejudice Ø Arbitrary attitudes or beliefs and unfair bias towards or against a person/group. Ø Based on little or no experience and projected onto entire group. Ø Prejudice is an individual’s internal perspective.

3. Discrimination Ø Action based on prejudice. Excluding, ignoring, avoiding, threatening, ridiculing, jokes, slurs, violence, unfair treatment. Ø Discrimination behavior is an individual’s external

Cycle of Systematic Oppression Justification for Further Mistreatment (oppress based on the effects of having oppressed) Systematic Mistreatment of Targeted Group Misinformation is Generated (including no information) Society Accepts (approves, legitimizes, normalizes) Power Control Economics Internalized Oppression (believe the misinformation about your own group) Institutions Perpetuate & Enforce Internalized Dominance (feeling/acting superior, often unconsciously, to the target group)

Internalized Oppression Incorporation and acceptance by people within a target group of the prejudices against them. “We hate ourselves because We grew up And live in a society that hates us” -- Michael Denneny

Assimilation's Ideals Ø Elimination of group-based difference; treat everyone according to the same principles, rules and standards. Also Liberal Humanism. Ø Belief that it maximizes “choice”. People can develop themselves as “individuals”, unconstrained by group norms or expectations

Assimilation Challenged Ø Group Solidarity: Black Power, Red Power, Women’s movement, GLBT Liberation Ø Assimilation implies coming into the game after it has already begun – Ø Blindness to difference perpetuates cultural imperialism Ø Aspirations to assimilate can produce selfloathing if unable to “fit in”

Diversity Ø May create the illusion of participation, when in fact there is no shared power. Ø Presence means very little without the power of decision making, share of the resources, development of agenda/plans, policies.

Becoming an Ally Ø Comfortable Ø Initiates with own identity, learning about others, Ø Acknowledges unearned privileges, Ø Works to change privileges into rights that target members can also enjoy, Ø Willing to take risks, Ø Committed to taking action!