Five Faces of Oppression - Logan Brown by Logan Brown

Definition

loganbrown44 — 2023-09-28 06:03:51 UTC

One of the descriptions for exploitation that was shared during class was "the process of transfer of value created by one group to another." The value being referred to here is the labor that laborers have being transferred to products, which the capitalists then receive and receive surplus value for, while the laborer does not get the full value of their work back.

Where does exploitation work?

loganbrown44 — 2023-10-16 18:30:37 UTC

Exploitation can be seen in many different social categories, both between different social groups as well as in them. It can be seen in social classes, race classes, to name a couple. Social class exploitation would come from available value (or lack of it) in a perceived economy such as controlling workers through their wage and benefits. Race class exploitation would also come from perceived value, but instead of dealing with more abstract things like value of work it instead deals with the value of lives, with people being treated differently based on the color of their skin for example.

How is it relevant to you and your community?

loganbrown44 — 2023-10-30 18:01:22 UTC

Uh... y'know, this is really hard for me. It's not relevant to me specifically since I'm not working a job, so I don't have any firsthand experience in that way. And since I don't go out often while staring at a screen trying to get work done (it fails a lot of the time so I'm rarely outside), I haven't picked up a lot on things related to them in the local area which mainly comes down to work or lack of it in my case.

How can we challenge this?

loganbrown44 — 2023-10-30 18:49:25 UTC

There's... a lot to be said about this. There isn't really a single method to challenge exploitation since it's present in so many ways. To name a couple ways that exploitation can be challenged:

- From an individual level, being kind. It's not hard, and being good to each other both help in the system as well
- At the larger scale, participation in organizations pushing for change through nonviolent means. Protests, petitions with signatures, the legal system (albeit with massive problems there since the legal system is set up to perpetuate the cycle of oppression/exploitation), and others can all be used

Definition

loganbrown44 — 2023-11-15 09:23:56 UTC

One of the descriptions for marginalization that was shared during class was referring to people that are removed from social interactions due to their labor being considered "useless". "Useless" in this context simply means less efficient, there's something holding back the worker, so instead have another worker who doesn't have the same problem(s).

Where does marginalization work?

loganbrown44 — 2023-11-16 04:21:41 UTC

"Marginalization" in this context does still have multiple categories, though not as many as exploitation. The main broad category it can be seen in people being marginalized are generally those who suffer from inhibitions regarding their ability to work. It could be something physical, mental, or even something else. As a result, it covers a broad variety of different peoples across all races, backgrounds, and identities; if their abilities are inhibited, then there's a chance they can be marginalized, or pushed out, due to being undesirable. These inhibitions may include things such as being hard of hearing preventing easy receiving of instructions, limited movement slowing the worker's ability to get around, or mental problems that limit one's potential in some other way (I'm not an expert on the topic and I don't want to make assumptions). Since it's a disadvantage the disabled worker has to... well, work with, an employer will see that disadvantage and hold it against them instead of accounting for it with a potential hire, since the employer knows that that disabled worker will struggle greatly to match the potential of an "able - bodied" worker. Granted, depending on those other factors (perceived race/background, etc. as well as who's responsible for letting them go) then they might be pushed out slower or faster, but regardless they are still at risk.

What's an effective way of challenging marginalization?

loganbrown44 — 2023-11-27 06:28:00 UTC

The main thing I immediately think of for challenging marginalization is to put the problem on blast, get the word out so others can know and learn and most of all the people who can make the most change (lawmakers etc.) can see who they're affecting. The 504 sit in was one we went over in class (I think? Was that it?) and was both planned and acted upon one marginalized group of many: disabled people. Disabled by sense (hearing/sight), by mobility, by mind, and other forms, disabled people were pushed out of the workforce due to being "less desirable" and as a result they were unable to make a sufficient living for themselves. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was meant to address that, especially section 504 which guaranteed disabled individuals several basic rights. Rights that weren't provided consistently, which is why disabled individuals took matters into their own hands and physically occupied federal buildings in San Francisco in on April 5th, 1977. Their stay lasted around 3 weeks (various sources have different numbers for exact days), and ultimately saw then - Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Joseph Califano sign the act into law. The disruption to the federal buildings both sent a physical and mental message: "We are here. Why aren't you listening to us? Do you believe us unimportant?" The disruptions on large enough scale can cause notice and potentially action without force, and it's been seen time and time again. It's even happening very recently where, I'm no expert or the most informed, but as of writing this very recently protestors in the U.S. calling for a ceasefire in Gaza have shut down the Manhattan Bridge using themselves, their bodies, to form a blockage. It's the same as the occupation of the buildings: a nuisance for those trying to look away.

How does marginalization connect to exploitation?

loganbrown44 — 2023-11-27 06:35:28 UTC

Marginalization connects to exploitation by... well, for lack of a better way to put it, literally connecting with it. The two intertwine each other by working to ensure the best of these predatory systems: exploitation seeks to extract the most profit at the least cost, and marginalization seeks to push problems out to make more profit. Exploitation covets laborers who are able to take part in relentless working of their bodies so that more products (and profits!) can be made, and marginalization tries to push out the "undesirable". Exploitation only wants the best workers to maximize profits, and so it pushes away "less qualified" workers that might not be able to work as well for any number of reasons such as disabilities limiting their work. Marginalization sees those limited workers, scoops them up, and throws them away from the main part of society, designating them as "lesser" due to being "unable" to work (they are unwanted by exploitative systems) and "unable" to provide for themselves.

Definition

loganbrown44 — 2023-11-29 20:13:52 UTC

Powerlessness is something that has many different meanings, but in the context of oppression and what we've learned I define powerlessness as being unable to be taken seriously in social settings, being unable to have a presence to get people to listen.

Explanation for the image icons (because I ran out of characters): This was honestly really hard to pick icons for since there's very few items that only weaken the player in Terraria. So instead, I expanded to a couple more things, ultimately choosing the Silenced debuff because... well, powerlessness in the context of oppression is all about not being heard for one reason or another, a Megaphone can represent amplification of one's voice, and a Void Bag represents the infinite possibilities that human language offers. Even within one specific language there's many ways it can be spoken, some which are looked down upon and others not, which is why code - switching is important so that you're not using the wrong one at the wrong time. Even still, the various ways that language can be presented is beautiful, and a bag to a little pocket dimension I think represents that well.

How does it relate to marginalization and exploitation?

loganbrown44 — 2023-11-30 06:16:11 UTC

Exploitation and marginalization take power away from people by reducing their abilities; in the case of exploitation, it's reducing their ability to make profit for themselves by taking advantage of their work. Marginalization takes away the ability for people to work for profit in the first place by removing them from wider society due to to things out of their control. Powerlessness takes away the ability for one to speak up for themselves since they're ignored for any number of reasons. They all take away from people who don't have the ability to freely make choices, with powerlessness trying to remove the chance that people pushed out by exploitation and marginalization have to fight via voice.

What social categories does powerlessness work in?

loganbrown44 — 2023-11-30 06:34:49 UTC

Powerlessness preys most on people who are limited in options. People who are well off for themselves (typically higher - ups in companies) have plenty they can do, some that sabotage others and others that don't, but the people who are at the bottom don't have that freedom. They're the ones who need the change the most, so by silencing them, the status quo continues.

Do you think code - switching is an effective method of challenging powerlessness?

loganbrown44 — 2023-11-30 07:21:43 UTC

I believe that code - switching is able to serve as an effective method to challenge powerlessness because with practice in different styles of speaking, the element of surprise can be used to subvert expectations and command a better presence for oneself to then push for better. The general core of my writing was that subtlety and subverting expectations, if done well, can make an impactful entrance that one can use to get started with establishing themself a presence in the topic of question, whatever it is (job, etc.). As well, code - switching is important since different linguistic "codes" (language styles?) carry different weights in society at large, and is sometimes necessary to get a footing in the first place. Once one's position is initially established, though, it can be leveraged to work for change.

Definition

loganbrown44 — 2023-12-08 08:09:02 UTC

Cultural imperialism consists of two base words: culture and imperialism. Culture refers to the things that make up who a person is; their background, there activities, and their heritage, among other things. Imperialism refers to a country extending its control through any means, with the most prominent being diplomacy and military force. Put together, the term cultural imperialism refers to a group in power having their experiences as the "norm", making the groups that aren't in power have their experiences be "different". Traditionally the dominant group becomes "invisible", and the dominated groups are given stereotypes from the things that make them unique.

Side tangent for the Terraria items: these ones... might be a bit of a stretch. Terraria as a game is very all over the place in terms of content and a lot of it can't translate to reality well. While it might not have a lot of representation in just items (the two seasonal events that are both based on Christian holidays, about half of the tombstones a player can drop on death in the game have vaguely Christian references to crosses and an angel in one case), the game doesn't seek to actively push back against any player both for how they play and who they are. That, and being a sandbox game, anyone could put their imagination and time to use to build something that represents themselves or ideas they support that have far more detail than any one item could have. Heck, you could even change some parts of the game with mods or resource packs that can add new items or change the appearance of existing ones respectively, such as this pack made by a Muslim player who said, "I think it's weird that my character drops a cross gravestone sometimes when I die. I'm Muslim and not from a Christian country originally, so not what I was used to," and so they changed the tombstones in question. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2841678082

What does it mean that violence is a social practice?

loganbrown44 — 2023-12-08 08:41:00 UTC

Violence as a social practice goes beyond the actual act of hurting an individual. As a social practice, violence is a terror tactic that is enabled by the society to control those that are out of line from what the society believes is perfect. This enabling can come in many forms, such as claiming equal treatment but letting members of the dominant group assault members of dominated groups and get off scot - free, individual members of the dominant group going off on their own and never being investigated, or even seeing the society straight up participate in helping beat down the dominated groups.

Where does cultural imperialism work?

loganbrown44 — 2023-12-09 01:30:05 UTC

Cultural imperialism primarily applies to groups holding less power in society, where the definition of being in that group is twisted based on the stereotypes they're seen with. Because so many groups are often pushed out from power or having a chance at it, there's a lot of different groups it has an effect on. One of the ones that continues to see a moral panic to this day is transgender people. Not specifically youth since right - wing politicians are pushing to target adults too, trans peoples' rights have been constantly under attack for years because they dare to exist more openly than they have in the past, and it's been seen a lot in more recent years. They've been around like so many others, and unlike some of the other groups trans people have been pushed away for being different, for wanting to change themselves from what they were; they can be any number of things, but the chokehold that white and/or Christian religious powers have over the legal system have made them actively seek to push them out. Another major group I've seen a comparison drawn with recently is Palestinians; more specifically, the reaction from major powers regarding Palestinians compared to Ukrainians. That comparison topic brought up was the general skin color of Ukrainians vs. the general skin color of Palestinians; the former are lighter in tone, and the latter are darker in tone. The United States especially has politically been dominated by white people and their values for centuries now. And look who's aiding in the slaughter of Palestinians! The U.S.!

What is double - consciousness?

loganbrown44 — 2023-12-09 07:15:09 UTC

Double - consciousness refers to when an individual from a dominated group looks at themself through the lens of the dominant group: they both look through their own perspective as well as the perspective of those with power over them. It can often affect them negatively because they not only look at themself however they might normally, but there's also how their oppressors might view them, how they might "want" them even if it's harmful to them since the oppressor of course wants to stay in power. For me... well, again, I look white, I pass as that, and I pass as male too. That's two things I have going in favor for me. As I've said before, I live primarily online and it's kind of a bubble, I don't see it happen as much, even more for myself since, again, I pass as part of two dominant groups. I don't share myself a lot online, I instead let my actions speak for me.

How can we rid ourselves of cultural imperialism?

loganbrown44 — 2023-12-09 07:21:44 UTC

As an absolute minimum, diversity should be brought about in all spaces. On paper that's not too hard of a bar to cross, but it shouldn't just be by appearance. It should be by how people present themselves (their background mainly), how people interact (community building activities, etc.), things like that, to help dispel the idea of there only being one way to go about things decided by whoever's in power. There would be more work that'd needed to be done since that diversity is easy on a small group level but nearly impossible on a whole societal level with how deeply cultural imperialism is embedded at this point, to the point that flipping the system over and remaking it from scratch would be a better option. That's way easier said than done, though.

Where does violence work?

loganbrown44 — 2023-12-09 07:48:45 UTC

Violence primarily works to those in dominated groups since they are more vulnerable to being attacked by the dominant groups for any number of reasons, such as not having more legal support that the dominant group typically would have if they were attacked. An infamous example from centuries ago was how widespread lynching was in the United States, where groups of whites, mostly men, would gather to collectively assault and strip an individual black person of their dignity and life, in that order. The groups would range from a couple individuals to massive crowds, and beyond straight murder they'd also go to inhuman lengths to mishandle the black person, just to make an example as to what could happen to any other, at any time, without any warning.

How does cultural imperialism lead to violence as a social practice?

loganbrown44 — 2023-12-09 07:49:40 UTC

Cultural imperialism contributes to violence as a social practice because cultural imperialism sees the dominant group push out dominated groups by stripping the meaning from the dominated groups' experiences. By extension, this strips away the dominated groups' word and ability to voice themselves, which in turn makes them more susceptible to violence through social practices since the dominated groups have been actively dehumanized, making it easier for dominated groups to look down on them and control them with fear.