Concept Identification Project

HDF 110

Prejudice, Privilege and Oppression

Jane Elliott: A Class Divided (brown eyes/blue eyes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mcCLm_LwpE

What was Rodney King’s question?

What are some common answers to this question or to the question as to why it is difficult to end prejudice in the world?

People are naturally afraid of the unfamiliar

People are SO different from one another that it is amazing that people coexist even as well as they do.

When people assume there are certain “absolute” values and that everyone must subscribe to those, lest we contribute to the “downfall” of society. An example “There is only ONE natural sexual orientation (based on specific definitions) making anything else unnatural and therefore unacceptable to society.”

Some version of “survival of the fittest” (Johnson, 2017)

Most Answers to this question fall under the broad category of “HUMAN NATURE”

The main problem is that by merely accepting these as true at face value (which many people do) is that is automatically gives us the idea that we are helpless to change it in any real way. It also fails to appreciate evidence to the contrary of each statement, namely:

People have a natural curiosity about the world around them demonstrated from the time we are young and continuing throughout life. Difference is socially constructed...unless the “difference” is perceived as a problem, we do not have a problem with differences.

It is not differences with which people necessarily have a problem, it is the MEANING people subscribe to these differences. When the differences are closely related to our closely held ideas or values,

people often see them as threatening. There are as many differences within groups as between groups. Taking any one group, whether it be race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or ability status and assuming if we just kept these groups together everybody would get along because they are “alike” ignores the many other attributes of people that contribute to successful and/or unsuccessful interactions between people.

There is biological evidence to the contrary, and even in terms of religion, not all scholars (even of Christianity) concur that homosexuality is a sin. Furthermore, in terms of oppressing people on the basis of “sinful” behavior there is a very “uneven” privilege.

The idea that it is just about “trying hard” or that if everyone just “wanted it badly enough” or “worked hard enough” we can all have the same things, overlooks environmental and systemic roadblocks present that preclude things from happening.

Before we start defining main concepts for the course… What is the view of the author of our textbook (Johnson) on use of terminology when discussing matters related to oppression?

Stereotype:A preconceived or oversimplified generalization about an entire group of people without regard for their individual differences. While often negative, stereotypes may also be complimentary. Even positive stereotypes can have a negative impact however, simply because they are broad generalizations. The stereotypes we hold form the basis of our prejudices.

Prejudice: an unconscious or conscious dislike about real (or suspected) differences

Discrimination: The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, often on the grounds of perceived differences. This can happen between individuals or groups.

Privilege-Exists when a group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to (or are perceived to belong to) rather than because of any of their actions.

“The luxury of obliviousness”- If you are part of the dominant group, you do not have to be aware of all the problems faced by the underprivileged or marginalized group... while if you are not part of the dominant group you have to constantly be aware of things. Examples?

TWO TYPES OF PRIVILEGE (Peggy McIntosh):

Unearned advantage: When only certain groups benefit from things that everyone in society should automatically have (safety, belonging, equity for contributions in society, general freedoms, access to benefits of living in our society, etc...)

Conferred Dominance: Includes the above, but gives one group power over another or others. The Dominant group defines what are the appropriate norms for a given situation and is able to enforce them through socialization of systems. Leads to the ability to discriminate.

*Any time you are able to move through your life and not be labeled as an outsider, who is excluded or included with restrictions, you are enjoying privilege.

Privilege occurs when things are systematically allowed for one person or group of people while they are denied to others.

Privilege as a Paradox:

• Although privilege is received by individuals, you are not granted privilege because of the kind of individual you are. People are privileged when they are perceived as having membership in privileged social groups or categories.

• Being part of a privileged group does not mean that you FEEL privileged or do not have struggles, whereas being part of a subordinate group does not mean you will not experience success or good things in life.

• You CANNOT give up your membership in a privileged group...it is not your individual decision.

Tokenism: A concept that involves giving minorities (generally, those who have assimilated)some access to power, so that majorities think “Well, if __________ made it and has achieved success, everyone in that group can...”

Cultural Appropriation: Occurs when members of the dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group. (How is this different from simply “sharing” or “exchanging” culture or assimilation?)

Microaggression: A term that relates to common daily instances that occur resulting in negative, prejudicial, pejorative, insulting or hostile messages directed at marginalized groups. These can be instances that occur in verbal or non-verbal communication, behaviors directed towards a person/people directly or that serve to disrespect the experience of marginalized groups, and environmental displays. Microagressions can be intentional or unintentional.

Power- *See French and Raven’s Six Bases of Power (separate attachment)

Oppression : combination of prejudice with privilege and power. When people with power have prejudices against someone, they may oppress (hold back or hurt) that person. Oppression refers to the subordination of a given group or social category by unjust use of force, authority, or societal norms in order to achieve the effects noted above. Psychological perspectives on racism, sexism and other prejudices are often studied as individual beliefs which, although not necessarily oppressive in themselves, can lead to oppression.

Institutionalized oppression results in society when prejudice and privilege is exerted through power structures and becomes imbedded in social systems, are codified in law or policy and become parts of a culture.

Horizontal Hostility is the manner in which an oppressed group comes to use against itself the methods of the oppressor. For example, sometimes members of marginalized groups hold an oppressive view toward their own group, or start to believe in negative stereotypes of themselves and act on them.

Intersectionality Recognizes that the interconnected nature of the various marginalized groups in society and how interlocking systems of power impact those who are most vulnerable in society and can have a magnifying effect on subordinate groups.

Cycle of Oppression: Myth- Stereotypes and prejudices along with the “reasons” people give for the existence of them.

Socialization - How systems (at all levels) reinforce prejudices. As people move through their various environments, they are “taught” how to think in negative ways about group differences and how to attribute negative ideas to certain groups.

Internalization- When people individually and collectively begin to believe in the superiority of certain groups over others, dominant groups become privileged.

Behavior – People individually and collectively (groups, organizations) begin to act on their beliefs that certain groups are superior over others. (discrimination, oppression, institutionalization)