Dynamics of Oppression HEATHER Introductions Special note on the demographics of who is giving the training

Objectives: To define oppression To explore how oppression is experienced on an institutional level To examine how different forms of oppression intersect To build skills for practicing allyship MICHELLE Go over ground rules Confidentiality Step Up/Step Back Icebreaker: What is one thing no one would know about you just by looking at you? (each fac give example) This exercise is to get us started talking about assumptions.

What does oppression mean? Old French origin: Appears as early as the 12th century, meaning “cruel and unjust use of power or authority” HEATHER Become a buzz word, but it’s really been around a long time

From OCADSV: “Oppression is the systematic and pervasive mistreatment of individuals on the basis of their membership in a disadvantaged group. It involves an imbalance in power, and one group benefitting from the systemic exploitation of other groups.” HEATHER & ARIELLA Systematic: Pervasive: Mistreatment Membership in disadvantaged group: Imbalance in power: Systemic exploitation: Antonyms Kindness, justice

Oppression = Power + Privilege + Prejudice ARIELLA All three things in the equation—power, privilege, and prejudice—must exist in order for an action to be oppressive. Oppression is about misusing power and privilege to enact prejudice.

Power Dictionary: “the exertion of strength or force as well as the ability or capacity to perform effectively” Can be defined as “the ability to get what you want” or “how much access one has to resources to meet one’s needs” Examples of power dynamics: Parent-Child Teacher-Student Employer-Employee Law Enforcement-Citizen MICHELLE

Privilege Privilege refers to the advantages and benefits given to members of a dominant group, often at the expense of members of a non-dominant group. People in dominant groups are granted privilege whether they have earned it or not; whether they know they have it or not; and whether they want it or not. Privilege operates on personal, interpersonal, cultural, and institutional levels. Examples: You are not expected to work on your religious holidays You are able to get married in the state you reside in and have it recognized across the nation When you buy a product in “flesh” tone, you can count on it matching your general skin tone. ARIELLA & HEATHER Privilege is often invisible to us, it’s something we take for granted, although members of a target group are unable to. “What is Privilege” Activity Privilege refers to the advantages and benefits given to members of a dominant group, often at the expense of members of a non-dominant group. Privilege is typically invisible to people who have it. People in dominant groups often believe that they have earned the privileges they experience, or that everyone has equal access to privilege. People in dominant groups are granted privilege whether they have earned it or not; whether they know they have it or not; and whether they want it or not. Privilege operates on personal, interpersonal, cultural, and institutional levels.

Prejudice Prejudice is the way we internalize beliefs about members of marginalized or dominant groups that are “other” from us. Examples: All people who practice the Islamic faith are terrorists Black men are “thugs” Trans* people are pedophiles MICHELLE

Power + Privilege + Prejudice = Oppression All three things – power, privilege, prejudice – must exist Oppression is the misuse of power and privilege to enact prejudice ARIELLA This is not oppression: As a white person, your Black boss makes a joke about how white people can’t keep rhythm (power and prejudice, yes, privilege no so not oppression/racism) The gender equality bake sale Affirmative action Atheist billboard

Oppression occurs on multiple levels: Internalized Oppression is when a person in an oppressed group believes or accepts the inaccurate myths and stereotypes applied to their group by its oppressors. Interpersonal Oppression is oppression that occurs between individuals, typically relying on tactics such as insults, jokes, or violence. Institutional Oppression is the network of institutional structures, policies, and practices that create unearned advantages and benefits for some, and discrimination, oppression, and disadvantages for others. HEATHER Occurs on multiple levels: Internalized, Interpersonal, and Institutional Internalized: - Black youth and standardized tests - Women and English as second language persons non-reporting sexual assaults and domestic violence Interpersonal: “Go back to where you came from.” Kentucky Clerk Institutional Oppression: Health Care Arizona

Institutional Oppression White Riots VS. Black Protests – Brave New Films HEATHER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZn_lJoN6PI – Feminist Frequency https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTcSVQJ2h8g – Racism is Real

Ally and Allyship Definition: An ally is someone who stands up for another’s justice and dignity, even when that person or group of people isn’t present. Definition: Allyship is not an identity—it is a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people. MICHELLE Which question was easier to answer? Why? What were some of the feelings you had when talking about a time someone was an ally for you? What did it feel like to be an ally for someone else? Being an ally can be difficult, but I’d like you to keep in mind what ti feels like when you know you have an ally.

Interrupting Oppression Jay Smooth: How to Tell Someone They Sound Racist Oppression or Not – Group activity ARIELLA Examples of oppressive and non oppressive acts and have tables put them in correct categories. Each group picks an example to respond to and comes up with a list of ways to respond/interrupt

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