Internalized Oppression (Claudia) By: Savoy, Masa, Ayanna, May

What is internalized oppression ? The oppressed adapting and accepting the stereotypes and prejudice the oppressor has labeled on them, which results in self hate.

Claudia’s backround / Life Nine year old girl (Narrator) Stable and caring household Despises white dolls Claudia resist the narrative of European features being “beautiful”. Claudia is scared when she remembers that her friend Pecola was raped and was psychologically tormented. Hates Maureen because of her light skinned and economic privilege Claudia doesn't hate herself. She hates the way society treats people that look like her (black)

Evidence pt. 1 “Adults, older girls, shops, magazines, newspapers, window signs-all the world had agreed that a blue-eyed, yellow-haired, pink-skinned doll was what every girl child treasured. “Here,” they said, “this is beautiful, and if you are on this day ‘worthy’ you may have it.” I fingered the face, wondering at the single-stroke eyebrows; picked at the pearly teeth stuck like two piano keys between red bowline lips. Traced the turned-up nose, poked the glassy blue eyeballs, twisted the yellow hair. I could not love it. But I could examine it to see what it was that all the world said was lovable. “ (Morrison, Autumn) Claudia recognizes the glamorization and praise for white people. She has hatred toward the white dolls because of everyone's love for them. The dolls represent society's attitude toward white people. Claudia rebels this praise and turns it into remorse and anger.

Evidence pt. 2 “Freida looked placidly down the street; I opened my mouth, but quickly closed it. It was extremely important that the world not know that I fully expected Maureen to buy us some ice cream, that for the past 120 seconds had been selecting the flavor, that I had begun to like Maureen, and that neither of us had a penny”(Morrison, Winter). Maureen is a light skinned girl of privilege. She not only has European features such as green eyes and fair skin, she also is rich. Claudia’s dislike toward Maureen is rooted in her privilege. In this particular scene where Maureen essentially dangles her privilege over her head by offering to buy her ice cream but didn't, further demonstrates Claudia's frustration towards people of privilege.

Evidence pt. 3 “When she comes out of the car we will beat her up, make red marks on her white skin, and she will cry and ask us do we want her to pull her pants down. We will say no. We don't know what we should feel or do if she does, but whenever she asks us, we know she is offering us something precious and that our own pride must be asserted by refusing to accept” (Morrison, Autumn). Claudias violence toward Rosemary is not only from the incident of Fredia being sexually assaulted, but her anger towards people that look like Rosemary in general.

Author's Message of Systems of Oppression Toni Morrison uses The Bluest Eye to recognize how people process different experiences and utilize resources to handle their internalized oppression.