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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Institutional Oppression
White Riots VS. Black Protests – Brave New Films
HEATHER
– Feminist Frequency
– Racism is Real

12. 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.

13. 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

14. Thank you for joining us!
ALL