Privilege and Oppression Test 1 Review PDF

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Highlights key points regarding Modules 1-6...

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Privilege and Oppression Test 1 Review Module 1Privilege-the concept of privilege refers to any advantage that is unearned, exclusive, and socially conferred Oppression- refers to any inhuman and/or degrading treatment of individuals or groups brought about by the dominance of one group over another. It is a process through which individuals or groups unjustly use their power to limit the lives, experiences and opportunities of others with less power Anti-Oppressive Practices (AOP)- a form of social work practices which addresses social divisions and structural inequalities in the work that is done with people whether they can be clients or workers    

AOP embodies a person-centered philosophy an egalitarian value system concerned with reducing the delirious effects of structural inequalities upon people's lives a methodology focusing on both the process and outcome A way of structuring relationships between individuals that aims to empower users by reducing the negative effects of social hierarchies on their interaction and the work they do together

Ally- a member of an oppressor group who works to end a form of oppression which gives [them] privilege 

(I.e.) a white person who works to end racism or a man who works to end sexism

Module 2Social Location- refers to a person's affiliation or categorization within webs of privilege and oppression    

Strands of the web include race, age, gender, sexual orientation, class, religion, and so forth. People are shaped, but not determined, by their social location Individuals have the capacity to make change and to understand the world independently of the storylines provided to them by society While people are influenced by their social location, the sum total of who they are, and what they choose to do within this, is always changing and offers huge potential for social and personal transformation

Relationship between Power and Privilege  

Power is given to those with privilege Privilege gives one group power over another If you have privilege, you have power- whether you like it or not and whether you use it or not

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Power can look like strength o (I.e.) manager, professor, religious leader, politician Power differentials, unequal rewards and access to resources are hard to give up Those with dominance and power that do not use their power may be ridiculed o (I.e.) “mama’s boy” it is negative for a man or boy to be influenced by or attached to his mother

What is Privilege?   

An advantage not available to others on equal terms Generally, not visible- no one talks about it Having control of societies extra resources

Privilege permits us to:    

Feel comfortable in the world Escape dangers that others might suffer Choose whether or not to address certain issues of oppression or injustice Not have to hide parts of our identity or lifestyle

Invisibility of Privilege  

Makes it difficult to fight- it is difficult to fight what is not seen or acknowledged Allows the status quo to continue Without any challenge it continues to perpetuate and regenerate- it becomes more powerful

Why don’t dominant groups see privilege as a problem?     

Unaware that their privilege exists in the first place Don’t have to see it- privilege protects them from consequences Perspective that is privilege is a personal issue- people get what they deserve Don't want to give up their privilege Afraid... of blame, guilt, rejection by their own group

What are Assimilation Ideals?    

Group- based differences- eliminated Everyone is treated the same- according to principles, rules and standards The myth of “neutrality” Belief that is “maximizes ‘choice’

Paradox of Privilege   

Privilege is socially constructed Society places us each into categories based on the groups we belong to How we are treated is dependent on the category we belong to What is valued vs not valued

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The paradox occurs when we struggle or are unaware of the difference between being privileged and feeling privileged

Why do those with privilege practice Denial and Resistance? 

No one likes to see themselves as connected to someone else’s misery, no matter how remote the link is

Typical Responses to PrivilegeMinimize Acknowledge that it exists but doesn’t amount to much ▫ (I.e.) “women have it good today” or “women and minorities whine too much” DenyTo deny the reality of oppression also denies the reality of the privilege that underlies it, which is just what it takes to get off the hook ▫ (I.e.) “I can’t be racist I have black friends or gay friends...”

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Blame the victimAllows us to acknowledge:    ▫

That privilege and oppression exists There are appalling consequences for people Gets us off the hook by blaming it all on them! (I.e.) “if Aboriginal peoples worked harder or got an education, they’d be okay” or “some women are hypersensitive”

Call it something else    

An indirect way to deny privilege and oppression: (I.e) “battle of the sexes” Most often seen in sexism- men (dominant group) and women (target group) depend on each other in ways unlike other groups “I’m one of the good ones” “Bad people do bad things” Silence and inaction make us just as much as the problem

What can those with privilege do about it?    

Acknowledge that it exists- become aware and stay aware Pay attention- understand how it works and how you participate Learn to listen- take it seriously, assume it is true, take responsibility, do something about it Do something- openly change the way you participate in a system, and you contribute to changing the system

Module 3-

What are some ways that SSW and SSW organizations participate in systems of privilege?     

Everyone grows up with, and participates in systems of privilege and oppression So privilege is an issue for social service workers both personally and professionally Privilege is an issue for human service organizations as well SSW may have experienced oppression but will enjoy privilege too SSW/SW and human service organizations are often unable to see their privilege

Unchecked Privilege in SSW     

Privilege allows professionals to make assumptions about service users Service users are aware of the privileges enjoyed by the Service Providers are not always aware of the conditions of service users Can be a barrier to empathy, effective communication, and rapport building Self-awareness about privilege increases the SSW effectiveness and increases their professional and personal growth Obstacle to culturally grounded anti-oppressive practice Ignoring privilege or minimizing the impact on service user- SSW relationship may compromise trust and lead to ineffective practice

Baines’ research findings on SSW power and privilege   

Feared talking about giving up privilege would leave them subordinated—resulted in shutting down discussion and confronting privilege Tendency to not to acknowledge power and privilege—everyone wants to be part of the oppressed group People seem more willing to confront their subordinate status than their privileged positions SSW want to disassociate themselves from the knowledge that part of their identity is associated with harm experienced by others

Using power instead of sharing powerlessness 

Learn how to use power rather than trying to share powerlessness “little is achieved by privilege people sharing powerlessness while much can be achieved by redistributing power and building politicized, affirming identities. Learning how to use power and privilege, rather than denying it, is part of the challenge of the anti-racist and anti-oppressive project”-Baines

What can SSW do about privilege? 1. SSW Terminology and Privilege ▫ Avoid using politically charged terms that might offend the public, employers, funders, government ▫ Use words that are considered good polite ways of communicating ▫ Need to stop being defensive and sensitive to the challenging words and what they mean 2. Acknowledge Privilege in SSW

▫ SSW must become aware of how privilege affects the everyday lives of service user groups and how this is connected to systems of privilege and oppression ▫ Cannot end privilege by only changing the way people think, the systems that maintain and recreate privilege and oppression need to be changed ▫ Cultivate a critical awareness of privilege and make it part of our everyday lives 3. SSW need to pay Attention ▫ Develop an understanding of privilege ▫ Read ▫ Study ▫ Talk to others ▫ Write about it ▫ “Make it our business to find out for ourselves” 4. Learn to Listen ▫ Listening attentively is challenging for members of dominant groups ▫ Avoid being defensive and denying ▫ Listen to what is said. Take it seriously. Assume for the time it's true...it probably is. And then take responsibility to do something about it. 5. Take Risks- Do Something, Opportunities Exist Everywhere ▫ SSW need to pay attention to the everyday opportunities to do something about it ▫ Start by taking small risks ▫ Listen more, talk less ▫ Get over feelings of discomfort and awkwardness ▫ Changing how you participate in systems of privilege and oppression will contribute to changing how the systems operate More Ways to Make a Difference      

The system of privilege and oppression depends on silence—it depends on the SSW collusion Make noise and be seen Find little, everyday ways to challenge Dare to make people feel uncomfortable, starting with yourself Openly choose and model alternative paths Openly promote change on how systems are organized around privilege

Unpack the Invisible Knapsack     

Dump out the invisible knapsack of privilege Contains all of our unearned benefits Take a look at the ways these different characteristics have become obscured and invisible Use your unearned advantages to weaken hidden systems of privilege Use our arbitrarily awarded power to reconstruct power systems to be less oppressive

Become an Ally 

Privileged persons need to make the problem of privilege their problem and do something about it

Module 4P/C/S Analysis and Oppression▫ ▫ ▫ 

P stands for the personal level C for the cultural level S for the structural level These three levels or locations of oppression are in a dynamic interaction with one another, with each level supporting, reinforcing, and influencing oppression on other two levels and, in turn, being supported, reinforced, and influenced by the other two levels

Personal Level Oppression    

P level represents an individual's thoughts, feelings, values, and beliefs, as well as their interpersonal- actions, behaviors, and language “negative prejudgments about subordinate groups” “usually based on stereotypes & may manifest in conscious acts of aggression and/or hatred” “today it tends to be in the form of unconscious acts of aversion & avoidance”

Forming and Maintaining a Healthy Identity      

“Distinct nature and character Relatively stable over time and in different contexts Reflects a positive self-image A sense of value to society Self-determining Act with purpose on [their] own behalf” Free of the destructive impacts on oppression

Impact of Oppression on a Healthy Identity  

“to be viewed and treated like second class, subhuman, expendable” “to have an identity imposed by another group based on stereotypes & Eurocentric ideas & sentiments of an inferior Other does not facilitate the development of a healthy identity”

SSW Strengthen a Healthy Identity  

People need a strong healthy identity to challenge oppression SSW use anti-oppressive practice to facilitate the development of a healthy identity to challenge oppressors & oppression

Conscious Oppression 

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labeling, name-calling, graffiti, & sometimes physical violence “reflects the belief that the characteristics of the dominant group (skin colour, eye shape, male body) represent the norm or universal standard & that anything not meeting the standard is open to ridicule & insult” message is that they are inferior - do not meet the standards or norms

Unconscious Oppression  

Microaggressions “hostility, fear, avoidance, & feelings of superiority are expressed by dominant group members in mundane contexts of interaction in terms of their gestures, speech, tone of voice, & body movements”

Effects of Oppression on Individuals  

learn early in life how society views & treats them, & throughout their lives this learning is reinforced personal identity comes to match the negative portrait from society “when there is incongruence between the personal identity & social identity - there is potential for resistance & change”

Rational Coping Strategies for those Suffering from Oppression1. Mimic ▫ Imitate the behaviors and attitudes that the dominant group displays toward the oppressed group- to gain a more privileged status 2. Escape ▫ An attempt to move to another social category- one with fewer social penalties 3. Psychological Withdrawal ▫ Adoption of a cautious, low-profile identity as a way to decrease visibility and the social penalties associated ▫ Passivity, lethargy, and submission 4. Guilt Behaviors ▫ A way to compensate for the guilt of not having the same qualities as the dominant oppressor group 5. Retreat to Fatalism, Religion, Magic ▫ The situation is so overwhelming with respect to the dominant group that people in the oppressed groups retreat 6. In-group Hostility ▫ Those that are oppressed find solace by comparing themselves and their situation to more oppressed groups ▫ Oppression is reproduced within oppressed groups 7. Social Withdrawal

▫ The person that is oppressed develops one set of behaviors for interactions with dominant groups and a different set of behaviors when in contact with subordinate groups What does Mullaly say about resistance and oppression? 

“Resistance is an inevitable pervasive counter part of oppression”

Why is culture considered the “poor cousin” in SSW? 

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Until recently has not been taken seriously by the social work profession SW is missing an important level of critical analysis if it does not consider the profound impact of culture culture as “a site of oppression, resistance & anti-oppressive practice”

Culture  

A system that members of society use to manage the world around them Shared: beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, & artifacts Information that is transmitted from generation to generation through learning

Features of Culture      

Norms, values, beliefs, & ideals Culture makes us human Shapes our perspective of ourselves & others Helps us to make connections Is produced & reproduced always evolving Has a historical context A few dominate & others are subordinate

Dominant Culture

“Every day, dominant group members see their identity groups, their religion, their social systems, their language, and so on presented as the norm in the mass media, in their government bodies, in advertising, and in other cultural arenas”

Dominant Culture Influences on SW   

Education, values, ethics & professional associations Values, methods & analysis of social problems & tools Social service agencies, organizations, programs, services, policies, & legislation SSW viewed as a progressive profession but is rooted in a history of oppression

Social Work Culture

All groups have culture, even social work

Maintaining Cultural Dominance-

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“[O]ne of the ways the dominant group is able to maintain hierarchical divisions of class, race, age, sexual orientation, and the like is by promoting, imposing, and universalizing its own culture while repressing or suppressing other cultures”

Stereotype- “A stereotype is a biased, oversimplified, universal, and inflexible concept of a social group” Characteristics of Stereotypes1. Defy logic/ evidence- based on ideology therefore resistant to change 2. Tend to be excessively negative- therefore hurtful 3. Are so embedded in our thought process that we often do not realize that they are affecting our perceptions & actions 4. Perceived to be an essential aspect of the group 5. Group is homogenized – no exceptions to the rule How is language used to recreate oppression? 

 

“Language is never politically neutral. It does not simply describe or reflect the reality of inequality and oppression in our society it is also used to construct and maintain oppression and may be used to resist and challenge it” ‘those with power control the language of the discourse and therefore influence how the world is to be seen and what it will mean” “language does not possess the properties of absolute truth but is historically, socially, and culturally contextualized and largely reflects the interests and world views (including the culture) of dominant groups”

How is SSW culture oppressive? 

SW profession is based on the beliefs of “bourgeois, white, privileged persons” (dominant culture)

Structural Level Oppression  

refers to the means by which oppression is institutionalized in society laws, policies, social processes & practices, & the economic & political systems all work together primarily in favor of the dominant group at the expense of subordinate groups oppression is given formal legitimation...