five faces of oppression by Sally Chan

"oppression occurs through a steady process of the transfer of the results of the labor of one social group to benefit another" (37).

sallychan11 — 2023-10-08 19:05:31 UTC

gender/race/class

sallychan11 — 2023-10-08 19:35:40 UTC

gender: women work under men, men profit off of women's labors and efforts. in the family setting, women are tasked with nurturing and caring for the children and providing sexual satisfaction to men.

race: the dominant group, white people, occupy the highest positions of power and use the dominated group, people of color, to support them, where they are tasked to do "menial" work (ie cleaning and service). the dominant group relies on this labor to succeed yet do not recognize these roles as significant or deserving of higher pay

class: those of the upper classes stay at the top of the hierarchy at the expense of those in the lower class through exploitation. through the capitalist system, the lower class continue to "sell" their labor power for "fair" compensation, which is not the case in reality. In reality, the lower class continue to give more than they receive from their exploiters, which means while the upper class continue to get rich, the lower class does not, and their risk of dropping even lower remains.

relevance

sallychan11 — 2023-10-08 21:10:49 UTC

this is relevant to me as a woman of color that comes from a community predominantly of color. the work that i do may be seen as less than a white man's, even if it requires the same amount of effort, or more. as a result, i would get paid less, which is essential to my livelihood. in addition, under this system, we would never be free from the exploitation of the dominant group, even if we don't experience hardships in our everyday lives.

challenge this face of oppression

sallychan11 — 2023-10-08 21:14:42 UTC

change social rules and structures, as well as changes the institutions in control of setting those rules. become aware of your position and realize that the work you do may not contribute to yourself but the exploiter. contribute to the decision making process that continuously puts exploited groups in these positions.

in addition, by opposing the oppressors, the oppressed and supporters threaten their power. whether it is refusing to work to protest the policies the oppressed are backing, or cease support for other companies that are funding immoral projects and activities, the oppressors will have to respond and bend at the will of the oppressed after enough pressure because they rely on us to get money.

image

sallychan11 — 2023-10-08 21:15:37 UTC

the ones pulling the cart are the ones being exploited by the exploiter who is not doing any work in the cart full of money that he did not make.

“a whole category of people is expelled from useful participation in social life and thus potentially subjected to severe material deprivation and even extermination” (39).

sallychan11 — 2023-10-31 16:59:15 UTC

marginalization is perpetuated by ableism because differently abled people are not allowed to work because the capitalists decide whose labor is valued. in addition, because some groups are more susceptible to charges for petty crimes, Black and Latino people, the CJS hinders them from participating through probation. as a result, of the people in the workforce, only those that capitalists approve of are employed and exploited in the capitalist system.

image

sallychan11 — 2023-10-31 17:27:06 UTC

those that are yellow are able bodied individuals living under the capitalist system, represented by the yellow circle. the marginalized groups are those that are white outside of the yellow circle. marginalized groups include those that are differently abled whose labor is not wanted by the capitalists. they are excluded from capitalism and are exploited through another means instead.

ability/incarceration

sallychan11 — 2023-10-31 17:30:20 UTC

ability: those who are differently abled are not able to work not because they can't, but because the capitalists do not change the work environment to accommodate them as they don't want to lose profits. by labeling differently abled people as "disabled", capitalists force them to think they are not able to work so they provide them an "alternative" through welfare services. so, differently abled people are not allowed to work and engage in society like those who are able, thus unable to earn their own money for subsistence. they are forced to rely on the government for support, who give them just enough to get by but not enough to pursue anything more.

incarceration: those who have served jail time for committing crimes are not allowed to participate in society; their ability to vote is stripped and their economic opportunities become limited. as a result of little option, they may turn to more risky options which make them more susceptible to arrests. the other option besides jail time is probation, which is falsely marketed as a better option when it's just as confining. individuals on probation are essentially kept on a leash as they aren't able to pursue better opportunities without setting off the traps set up by the criminal justice system. whether it is missing a meeting with the probation officer as a result of insecure housing and unreliable transportation, or not paying probation fees because of unemployment, those that are on probation can more easily prolong their sentence than become free. so, incarcerated people remain at the margin of society because they are given "second chances" by the CJS but they are not provided services that alleviate the problems they faced even before their encounter with the CJS.

relevance

sallychan11 — 2023-10-31 17:30:59 UTC

although i am able bodied and middle class, marginalization is relevant to me because those in power can easily decide who is and is not fit to work, and force them to depend on the government. the law enforcement institution that we all live alongside have the ability to decide who is and is not a criminal, making many of us susceptible to punishment by the law, pipelining us to probation and therefore marginalization.

challenge this face of oppression

sallychan11 — 2023-10-31 19:19:45 UTC

just like the 504 Sit-In protest demanding for the signing of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, stating "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance...", through protests, it forced those in power to change their ableist institutions to include everyone. because differently abled people are not considered the norm, the capitalists won't change anything unless they have to, so the people have to push really hard to make those changes happen. however, we can not trust the same system that oppresses us to provide for us, which is by relying on community and other people that are also oppressed. mutual aid is the concept where we help one another instead of waiting on the government to get things "approved" despite having the resources right in front of them. this can be through uniting together and taking what we need from the hands of those in power, like the MADR that ignored social norms and laws to help communities affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

connection to exploitation

sallychan11 — 2023-10-31 19:44:11 UTC

differently abled bodied people are still exploited even if they are not in the capitalist system by putting them into welfare services or pathologizing their "disabilities". whether it's diagnoses by a doctor, receiving rehab from a physical therapist, or getting food stamps, these institutions make money from the existence of marginalized groups by having them rely on them. whether an individual has a "disability" or is incarcerated, or both, capitalists profit off of them while not allowing those groups to participate in society.

"the powerless lack the authority, status, and sense of self that professionals tend to have" (40).

sallychan11 — 2023-11-24 23:21:57 UTC

even when they have the privilege to be exploited in the capitalist system, there is a hierarchy among the working class that determines whether they are "professionals" or "unprofessionals" which decides how much power they have over themselves as well as others. those that are powerless are never the rule makers but the followers. because of their situations they are forced into, they have no other option but to abide by the rules created by "professionals". what comes with their "unprofessional" status is little respect from society, low-wages, and little autonomy where they are unable to develop and hone skills that may aid their pursuits of "professional" positions.

connection to exploitation and marginalization

sallychan11 — 2023-11-24 23:30:35 UTC

exploitation: because the occupations they are in are determined to be "low status", the exploitation of the workers in these jobs is justified. as a result, they will have terrible working conditions, low pay, and are undeserving of respect. in addition, by working under the capitalist system, a structure in which the rules are already going against the workers, their powerlessness is reinforced because these rules are normalized despite them exploiting the workers of their labor and funneling all profits into the hands of the powerful.

marginalization: the people who work at these "low status" jobs are unable to hone their skills and acquire knowledge therefore assert their dominance because those that are in power promote the agenda that only those that are intelligent and in certain occupations are deserving of respect and higher pay. so, those in lower class are unable to fight for what they want because "they would not know what is best for them", an idea implemented by those in positions of power. in those "low class" positions, they are only able to make enough to sustain their livelihoods but not enough to gain power while also helping "high class" positions get richer through their labor, which is all part of the capitalist's plan to exploit marginalized groups.

powerlessness in social categories

sallychan11 — 2023-11-24 23:37:29 UTC

ability: those that are differently abled are viewed as inferior in terms of intelligence as well as ability to function in modern society. our existing institutions seek to control the lives of those that are disabled, either pathologizing their bodies, putting them into care homes, or barring them from contributing to society. these things are all done without the differently-abled people's inputs. our institutions instead tell them these are the paths in order to be "normal" and "part of society" without the intentions of allowing them to participate. the perception that differently abled people are less capable is persevering not because it is the truth but because the conditions and environment we live in work against what they need in order to achieve results. society expects them to succeed under circumstances that actively prohibits that, such as inaccessibility and non-accommodating schedules. beyond physical disabilities, differences such as depression and ADHD are not acceptable. changing the rules and the way the education system is structured can aid in the success of students yet they get reprimanded with "try harder" or "get over it".

race/ethnicity: historically oppressed groups such as Black, Indigenous, people of color have obstacles that constantly interfere with their daily life. all the institutions we utilize are built to make one group excel more than others, even if it wasn't the primary intention. things like racism and racial bias determines whether someone gets an opportunity, whether educational or occupational, which is also decided by involvements such as relating part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, and school records. however, the factor of race impacts an individual since the beginning of their life. as a result, the BIPOC community are often occupying these "lower" positions because these jobs require little education and skill but much labor. because of the many obstacles, such as unstable housing, insecure finances, or personal responsibilities, that the BIPOC community face while also being expected to succeed within the education system, it is easy for these individuals to resort to different means of survival, such as sacrificing education and going against the law. because they engage in practices that society looks down upon, they are viewed as people who are unable to decide for themselves and limited to occupations that can only follow those in power. in addition, it doesn't help that the concept of race is seen as "nonexistent" so even if it is still practiced, if it is not recognized in the legal light, no policies will be established to further protect BIPOC. along similar lines, BIPOC individuals are unable to pick up skills that were not common in their community, including mannerisms that are considered professional. this would be lingo, posture, and attire, to name a few. BIPOC individuals would also behave in a race-conscious way, such as refraining from shaking the hand of a white woman interviewer to show their respect, but this would be seen as unprofessional in the work context. so, the chain reaction of opportunities the BIPOC community are robbed of inevitably affects their ability to be professional which influences their job opportunities and in the end, their livelihood.

age: those that are younger are often excluded from the decision-making process, even if it is on policies that will affect them. the youth are often seen as a group that are "impulsive", "reckless", and "radical", which usually means progressive and more inclusive. however, these are often traits looked down upon by those that are trying to maintain the status quo. as a result, the youth are not taken seriously as a result of not being "mature" enough to make logical decisions.

experience with code switching

sallychan11 — 2023-11-25 00:08:43 UTC

i view code switching as effective. i understand how people my age are perceived so to counter those perceptions, often held by older people, i speak more confidently with more authority, becoming more aware of my diction and prose. this is especially the case at work where i encounter a lot of older, white men and women. being a small, asian woman, they may view me as timid and a pushover. if i am not absolute in the way i speak, they will take advantage of that weakness and push their entitlement onto me. these people are used to things going their way and when it doesn't, they become aggressive and disrespectful. on the other hand, i use it to support those like me. as a non-native english speaker who lives with parents that did not speak english, i know the discomfort of having to communicate with someone who can't understand you. to try and alleviate those worries, i speak in a more cheerful and bubbly manner to show them i'm friendly and to make them feel a bit more comfortable.

"cultural imperialism involves the universalization of a dominant group's experience and culture, and its establishment as the norm" (42).

sallychan11 — 2023-12-08 03:52:13 UTC

cultural imperialism does not take into consideration the experiences of other groups and instead asserts their own perspective and experiences, regarding it as the way things are "supposed to be done". not only does it not take them into consideration, it rejects it wholly and considers it an injustice when it occurs; therefore, any other "culture" that appears is quickly threatened and stifled. in addition, cultural imperialism's suppression of other experiences means the "Others" are also seen only through the eyes of the dominant group. this is a total erasure of the "Others" identities as they are defined with only stereotypes, not by their own words.

social categories

sallychan11 — 2023-12-08 03:57:12 UTC

gender: asserts the binary, the existence of only two genders which are man and woman, and labels everything else as the "Other". even if the dominant group acknowledges them, the perspective of women through their lens is inaccurate and harmful. they are expected to look a certain way to meet the beauty standards that men want them to have. in society, there are roles and jobs in the world that are labeled "for women" which are either low-paying, in a supportive position to serve men, or both. a woman's skills are doubted solely because they are a woman, not because they are inefficient. if women attempt to pursue anything beyond their "gender's role", they are looked down upon and not seen as a woman. the double consciousness reflects this imperialism when we align ourselves with beauty standards created by men, even if we are not aware of them. from birth, we are told that we are either a 'boy' or a 'girl' and whichever you are, there are certain characteristics we have to do and certain ones we can not. without ever questioning why, we are told to look this or that way, because we are a 'boy' or a 'girl', even when we had no choice but those two. through repetitive conditioning, we internalize the behaviors of a 'man' and a 'woman' to meet the standards of the dominant group, even if that means never pursuing your passion because you are a woman, nor reaching out for help when you are sad because you are a man.

race/ethnicity: the experiences of the dominant group, white/anglo-saxon, and BIPOC are vastly different. however, the differences are not described by the minority groups but by the dominant group who hold prejudices, where they pick and choose what they want to focus on and ignore everything else. the traits, often physical and cultural, that they pick on are then labeled "inferior" so that they are not able to escape something so attached to them; this occurs so that the "inferior group" will always be distinguishable. in addition, double consciousness is exemplified in the concept of the "model minority myth" which is perpetuated by the dominant group in order to label within the dominated groups, some who are superior and some who are inferior. this stereotypes both groups as either academically intelligent, obedient, and "not dangerous" while labeling the other as violent, radical, and harmful. as a result, those that are categorized as the 'model' part of the myth believe themselves to be superior to others and strive to be as "white" as they can be while bashing those who aren't. it encourages groups to forget about their native cultures and assimilate into the dominant culture so they fit this "ideal" that was never made to serve the oppressed. these assumptions are all based on the dominant group's ideas rather than the true experiences and identities of these minority groups. it ignores all the humanity and aspirations these groups hold and are completely ignored for who they truly are with their own culture. I also wanted to point out an example, which you, Professor Rika, mentioned in class where a white, queer faculty member simply said "come out to your parents, it'll be okay" without regard for the student's circumstances, which is highly reliant on family, culture, and layers and layers of complexity. this perspective forces the minority group into the dominant group's norms, assuming that the way they live is the "normal" operation of life, but that is only the case if the factor of "ethnicity" is removed.

double consciousness

sallychan11 — 2023-12-08 03:57:24 UTC

double consciousness is like living two lives where you have to play a character outside the home but when you are inside the home, you can allow yourself to relax more, but not wholly, inside your identity. i say not wholly because you can play this character so much that you slowly forget who you are beyond that. it is also the self-fulfilling prophecy where you can internalize the ideals of the dominated group and think those are your own values rather than another's. there were many instances when i would say "yeah even though my parents are Chinese, they aren't about my grades" as if this was an inherent characteristic of being Chinese and not a standard forced onto us. of course that was reinforced by others who assumed i would have good grades simply because of my ethnicity. i often felt ashamed if i didn't get good grades even though i was Chinese, because i saw that because i was Chinese, i would be good at math, again, as if it was an innate trait that all Chinese people had.

getting rid of double consciousness

sallychan11 — 2023-12-08 03:57:39 UTC

a professor once said "you will never truly be yourself if you continue to describe yourself with the oppressor's words" and I think this is very relevant to the concept of double consciousness. although simple and general, i think you have to learn about the concept of double consciousness first in order to unlearn it because as it states, these are all normalized things that are pushed onto us and because of its "normalcy", we don't see its oppression. to undo double consciousness is to figure out what labels we identify with and create our own definitions of those labels because that is how we will reclaim our own identities, rather than be described by stereotypes and prejudices. although we can appreciate being able to wield two swords, accepting and valuing your own culture and language will allow you to learn and feel more comfortable about yourself rather than try to squeeze into the box that wasn't made to fit us in the first place. once we realize this double consciousness, we can act beyond their expectations which will affect the oppressor because they realize we are not who they have forced us to be. whether it is retorting back when catcalled or pursuing an "unexpected" job, going beyond our confines means defying the expectations they have established for us without our input.

violence as a social practice

sallychan11 — 2023-12-08 06:46:13 UTC

although it is seen as violence, it is tolerated in that society expects it to happen to oppressed groups and accepts it as a normal thing and, therefore a social practice. everyone who falls under the oppressed group fears the risk of being subjected to this social practice which is reinforced by peers around the oppressor, who are validating and encouraging them to act upon this "social logic".

social categories

sallychan11 — 2023-12-08 06:57:45 UTC

race/ethnicity: the centuries-old abuse of the black community simply because they are black is a prevailing social practice. regardless of their gender or social class, the black community has been assaulted and harassed solely because they do not fit within the cultural imperialist standards, which they use to justify these acts, leading it to become a social practice. interactions with law enforcement or a tense argument with another individual are commonplace events for others but possibilities of death for Black people and that violence is justified through the narrative of cultural imperialism, where their natural mannerisms and skin color are tied to negative definitions such as "mean, aggressive, dangerous, and thieves". there is also the case with Asian Americans who get targeted for various reasons, most recently for "causing the COVID pandemic", which used the tension with vaccinations, mask mandates, and social distancing to justify the violence towards this group.

cultural imperialism & violence

sallychan11 — 2023-12-08 07:21:58 UTC

cultural imperialism sets the standards that each group has to fit in. they advance an agenda that is only applicable to the dominant group and label everything else as "inferior" and "other". first, because they are inferior for not fitting in with the dominant group, violence is used to punish the oppressed for not being like the oppressors. second, when the oppressed showcase an aspect of their own culture rather than assimilating into the oppressed's, they are violently victimized because of the hegemonic views held by the oppressors. whether it is because they fear the overthrowing of their "superior" culture or simply hate it, regardless, the oppressed are met with violence as a repercussion for expressing their own identities and cultures.