Five Faces of Oppression by Sophia Moore

Exploitation

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:17:53 UTC

Marginalization

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:18:15 UTC

Powerlessness

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:18:31 UTC

Cultural Imperialism

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:18:53 UTC

Violence

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:19:07 UTC

Definition:

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:22:58 UTC

"the process of the transfer of the results of labor from one group to another"

Definition:

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:28:31 UTC

expelling of "people whose labor capitalism does not or will not use because their labor is considered worthless/useless"

Define in your own words:

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:29:08 UTC

Different groups become powerless when a dominant group's culture silences and is enforced onto the oppressed groups.

Define in your own words

mssophiamoore — 2023-09-27 18:29:31 UTC

The dominant group's identity overpowers others and is seen and reinforced as the "norm"

mssophiamoore — 2023-10-16 05:57:56 UTC

With which social categories does exploitation work?

mssophiamoore — 2023-10-16 05:58:55 UTC

I would say that class is the biggest social category that connects to exploitation, but every social category can be connected to it too. The capitalist class exploits the working class by continuously profiting off of their labor-power and not paying the workers a fair wage which is needed for survival in a capitalist society.

How is this face relevant to you, and your community?

mssophiamoore — 2023-10-16 05:59:41 UTC

As a working class person, I feel like I am exploited at my job. I put so much effort into my job because I want to make extra tips and I care about doing my job well but I feel like I don't make the same amount of money that is equal to how much work I do. I make the restaurant I work in so much money but I feel so used sometimes because I know for a fact that I work harder than a couple of my co-workers yet we make the same amount of money (yes this includes the same amount of tips).
Also, I feel like the queer community is constantly being exploited especially because the gay flag has become a commodity and pride has become an excuse for big corporations to profit off our fight for freedom (by pride I mean the big parade, not the separate celebrations and protests for queer rights). Also queer people are over sexualized in media, especially lesbians. The porn industry makes so much money fetishizing lesbians and the main audience is straight men which is absolutely disgusting.

What is one example of method to challenge this face of oppression?

mssophiamoore — 2023-10-16 06:26:20 UTC

One way to challenge this face of oppression is to protest or go on strike to fight for fair wages but this would be more specific to the connection exploitation has to class.

mssophiamoore — 2023-11-15 17:57:52 UTC

With which social categories does exploitation work?

mssophiamoore — 2023-11-15 18:09:31 UTC

Some examples are people of color, trans people, homeless people, elderly, people who are pregnant, disabled people, drug addicts (or other substance addicts). Marginalization happens when society rejects these groups of people and refuses to use their labor in a capitalist society.

What is one effective method of challenging marginalization? Explain with a concrete example. Please include at least one real-life example with a source

mssophiamoore — 2023-11-15 18:09:44 UTC

One effective method of challenging marginalization is reparations. An example of this was reparations for Japanese-Americans after the internment camps during the 1940s. According to an article by the New York Times, "the Japanese American Evacuation Claims Act of 1948 offered compensation for real and personal property they had lost. About $37 million was paid to 26,000 claimants. But no provision was made for lost freedom or violated rights.

That came in 1988, when Congress voted to extend an apology and pay $20,000 to each Japanese-American survivor of the internment. More than $1.6 billion was paid to 82,219 eligible claimants."

How does marginalization connect to exploitation? <--

mssophiamoore — 2023-11-15 18:11:04 UTC

Marginalization happens when certain groups are excluded from exploitation, which, on the surface level sounds good, but in reality this means the marginalized people/communities are actually excluded from their labor being used so it's much harder for them to make money to survive.

How does powerlessness relate to exploitation/marginalization?

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:00:54 UTC

Powerlessness relates to exploitation because for both, the dominant group is holding power over a certain group(s) and uses that power to perpetuate their cultural, economic, political, etc.. beliefs as the norm

In which social categories does powerlessness work?

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:03:18 UTC

Race, gender, sexuality, language/citizenship, disability/ability

We discussed code-switching as a potential way to challenge (linguistic) powerlessness. Share your reflection on code-switching if it is an effective way.

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:03:52 UTC

Code-switching can be powerful because it can be used to switch between multiple parts of your identity/relationships with other people. It can also be used to understand the dominant group's language and culture in order to either fit in (play into the system to get ahead) or not (dismantle the system from outside and don't give into their ideal and norms).

In which social categories does cultural imperialism work? List two prominent categories with examples

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:04:56 UTC

Race and gender are two prominent categories that cultural imperialism works with. Many racial or ethnic groups are commodified and culturally appropriated for the benefit of the dominant white group. Many of these groups are also stereotyped which causes a lot of harm to those communities. For the social category of gender, many trans people are seen as an "object" for the dominant group to look at. Trans people are over sexualized and fetishized by cis people.

What is double-consciousness? Define, based on your own life experience

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:05:27 UTC

Double consciousness is the way the dominated group sees themselves through the eyes of the dominant group. Sometimes I think about my queer identity through the eyes of cis, straight people. I think of myself as feminine a lot, not because I don't feel non-binary, but because there's a voice in my head telling me that my voice is too high and my body looks too much "like a girl" so therefor I am one. These are transphobic stereotypes that are reinforced by the dominant group but since these are the things I've been told my whole life, it's hard to switch out of that mindset.

What are some ways to get rid of cultural imperialism (you can focus on how to get rid of double-consciousness)?

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:05:55 UTC

What does it mean that violence is a social practice, beyond being individual victimization?

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:07:59 UTC

Violence is a social practice because it is an ongoing practice by the dominant groups. It is systematic because it perpetuates fear within the dominated group and creates a lot of physical and emotional damage to the oppressed group. Also by acknowledging that violence is a social practice and not an individual problem, we can force the dominant group to take accountability for their actions rather than them putting the blame on us.

In which social categories does violence work? Give an example to illustrate.

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:08:29 UTC

I would say that it could be applicable to every social category. One example of a social category violence affects is gender. Trans people have high murder rates and are more abused/assaulted. The violence against trans people is also verbal in some cases such as misgendering, pressure to not transition or to de-transition. This emotional violence means that many trans people suffer from mental struggles. The fear of being hurt, killed, verbally abused, misgendered is constant and causes so much damage.

How would cultural imperialism promote violence as a social practice?

mssophiamoore — 2023-12-13 07:09:44 UTC