My recent conversations around the web have led me to realize that not everyone knows what some of the less
overt kinds of oppression looks like. It's hard to tell sometimes
when something is oppression when it isn't in your face. I am working
on putting together a list of various ways people are oppressive to
themselves and others, often without even realizing it is happening.
I'll start by going through the different
'-ism's and then go through some of the tactics used to shut down
even the discussion of the '-ism' in question. After all, we can
never change the system if we never talk about it.
(Some of these are pretty overt examples – I
would really appreciate it if people think of more insidious or
internalized examples that they either share them here or message me
them so I can have better examples of less overt methods. Also, if
you think something in my definition is busted or if you can think of
a clearer or more succinct definition please share it. Thanks! -Lee)
The Oppressions
Classism
“Of course you can afford that, all you
need to do is cut out one coffee or pack of smokes a week”
Classism is oppression based upon a
persons assumed wealth or overall monetary value. This example
assumes that the person can even afford to get coffee, or smokes and
doesn't take into account the fact that many people can't even afford
one pack of smokes a month because they don't have the extra money.
Sexism
(said by a cisfemale to a cisfemale) “Girl, if you wear that
you will never get ahead, you have to be sexy.”
Sexism is discrimination against someone
because of their presumed sex or gender. In the example this is
horizontal oppression of another female with the assumption that you
have to dress to appeal others in order to 'get ahead.' This implies
that your body is valued over your brain.
Racism
“So where are your people from”
Racism is oppression due to a persons
race, real or presumed. In this case the question assumes the person
is from somewhere else because they don't look like what the person
asking thinks they should to be a local.
Cissexism
“But you were born with a penis, that makes
you a boy”
Cissexism is when people assume that your
genitals and gender identity “match.” This not only reduces a
person to their genitalia but denies their gender identity,
especially if they don't plan on aligning their body physically with
what society expects it to look like for their identity (if society
even accepts their identity otherwise it reduces it to an assumed
binary identity).
Transphobia
“So... You were born a girl, cut off your
tits and pretend you don't have a gender?”
Transphobia is oppression against people
who are not cis*. This can be against transsexual people and
transgender people both. The example is a case where someone is
assuming that a trans* person is pretending (and thus being trans*
isn't a valid identity) and is reducing them to their CASAB.
Binarism
“So... are you a boy or a girl?”
Binarism is the assumption that a person
fits into the gender binary. This fails to take into account all of
the people who are non-binary in gender identify.
Sizeism
“I feel really fat and it makes me look not
sexy.”
Sizeism occurs when people are
discriminated against due to their size, usually due to being larger
than the socially accepted ideal though it can occurs for “too
skinny” too. In the example it is internalized sizeism where the
person equates being “fat” with “not sexy.”
Ageism
“Grandpa, you wouldn't understand the new
computer. It's after your time.”
Ageism is discrimination based upon older
people. This can be youth's onto adults, or adults onto other, older
(or perceived as older) adults. In this case the person assumes that
someone who is “older” can't understand a new technology.
Adultism
“You'll get it when You're older.”
Adultism occurs when adults discriminate
against youth. This example is a patronizing display of adultism that
assumes a young person couldn't possibly understand the situation.
Religious Oppression (ever wonder why this
one doesn't have an '-ism'?)
“So what church do you go to?”
Religious Oppression occurs when people
discriminate based upon religion. This also occurs in the general assumption that people are christian (sometimes this is even more
specifically protestant). In this example the person fails to
consider the person might be jewish, hindi, shinto, atheist, muslim
or any other of a number of non-church based religions. (oh, and I
don't know why either, if someone has an idea please share – I am
curious.)
Heterosexism
“Oh so where is your girlfriend?”
Heterosexism happens when people
automatically assume heterosexuality in another person. This is an
example of someone assuming a male attributed person must then have a
girlfriend.
Cisgenderism
“So... if you're a guy why are you in a
dress?”
Cisgenderism happens when people assume
that everyone's gender identity and/or gender expression agrees with
what society thinks it should be. This is an example of people
forcing you to conform to societies expectations of how you should
present your gender.
Colorism
A person uses skin bleach to lighten their
skin tone.
Colorism happens when people are treated
differently because of the amount of visible melatonin in their skin.
This is an internalized example where the person feels the need to
lighten their skin because of the social stigma they face for having
a darker skin tone.
Lookism
“Wow, look at that, she's got one eye
bigger than the other. She must hate herself.”
Lookism happens when people who fit the
social ideal are treated better than others. This is related to
sizeism, transphobia and more but is also distinct. The assumption
that 'she' must hate herself is assuming that having traits that
aren't socially ideal is bad.
Nativism
“We need to make sure that American's get
jobs, it's ridiculous how those immigrants are getting all of the jobs hard-working American's need.”
Nativism happens when people who were born
in a country are systematically privileged over people who have
immigrated or are perceived to have immigrated. This shows that by
assuming that someone who has come to this country shouldn't be
considered for a job if an American is also qualified.
Ethnocentrism
“You're Hispanic so you must really like Mexican food then”
This is when members of a culture look down on people from other cultures. This is also making assumptions about a person's cultural identification based upon assumed ethnicity.
Dyadism or Couple Privilege
“We each have veto power for new partners because our relationship always comes first.”
This is the assumption that the people in a pre-existing relationship (a dyad) is more important than a new relationship. This leads to systematic oppression of 'secondaries' in a poly relationship by the 'primary relationship'.
Eliteism
“Here, read this.”
This is the oppression of those without credentials or who are not literate by those who have credentials and are literate. In this case it is the assumption that the other person can read.
Pro-natalism
“So, when are you going to have kids?”
This is the assumption both of fertility and the desire to have children. Not everyone can have kids or wants them so this default is oppressive.
Language-bias
“Where did you learn to speak English so well?”
This is a bias against people with English as a second language, this also appears when someone assumes English isn't the other person's primary language.
Mentalism/Sanism
“Oh him? He's just crazy don't worry about that.”
This is oppression of the neurotypical against the neuroatypical. This occurs either with the systematic oppression of those with mental illnesses or those assumed to have mental illnesses.
Domism
“You're too mouthy to be a submissive,”
This is the oppression of those who take a submissive role by those who take a dominant role in a power exchange.
American exceptionalism/American privilege
“The African's should be grateful for our aid, we are clearly helping them out of a tough place."
This is the oppression of non-American's by American people. This also, as with many other oppressions, extends to those assumed to not be from America.
The Derails and Denies
Silencing
“Do we really need to have this discussion
now?”
Unfortunately, yes we do. Silencing is
also effectively done with pretty much any other derail or deny. This
is an overt example – all of the other ones are silencing
techniques that can be a little less obvious.
Patronization
“Your
right, I don't have to work to attend, I just sneeze and 100 dollar
bills fly out my nose.”
The patronization techniques are many and
varied but generally involve, snark, sarcasm, hyperbole, or a
protestation of innocence. Sometimes these get combined together for
one big whopping patronization fest.
Infantalizing
“Stop acting like a child.”
Telling the person that their behavior
isn't age appropriate isn't just ageist, it's a derail! This demeans
the other person and shuts down the argument.
Dismissing
“You're just seeing problems where there
aren't any.”
If we pretend it isn't there it goes away
right? No. Dismissing that there is even a problem just forces it to
get even more insidious. This is why “colorblindness” is such a
big problem. (well, one of the reasons)
Uninformed
“I didn't know, so you can't blame me.”
Ignorance may seem like the perfect alibi
but it isn't. After all, there are a huge number of resources out
there for you to educate yourself with so ignorance isn't an excuse.
Ignorance is something that can only be afforded with privilege.
Appropriation
“Oh my gosh, I have so been there too! I
mean, I know I'm not black but people totally make fun of me because
I'm so pale!”
No. Just... No. Unless you are in the
target group you don't get to appropriate their experience. This
happens all the time and just makes the discussion about the
privileged again and frankly, they have had their space, it's the
time for the target groups to get a voice. Oh and it denies target
groups their experiences, trivializing them. In this case it's
comparing the systematic oppression of a person of color with someone
teasing because of skin tone.
False Argument
“Complaining
at the cost of something like this, and calling it classist, reeks of
entitlement to me. Like they should just hand tickets out to
everyone, and if they don't, well, they're discriminating”
This is when someone, rather than arguing about the oppression you're
actually talking about, argues about something similar but not the
actual question. This makes them feel like they are arguing against
you but often leaves you with a face/palm. In this case discussing
classism doesn't assume that the event has to be free, just that the
policies don't systematically exclude people due to their class.
Attack!
“if
you don't want a discussion to take a hostile tone, then maybe you
shouldn't throw out such dirty and accusatory words as "privilege"
at people who really worked hard to get somewhere just because you
didn't.”
This is when they don't discuss the issue
at hand but instead attack you, your tone, or your word use. Who
needs discussions when you can just flame!
Downplay
“I'm sure it isn't as bad as you think.”
This is when someone not of the target
group, assures the person trying to discuss or interrupt oppression
that they are exaggerating. This minimizes the problem and allows it
to be dismissed, not talked about, and also allows it to continue.
Red Herring
“why are we talking about racism? The real
problem is the systematic oppression of the poor!”
This happens when the person just changes
the subject. Sometimes this is done by some who isn't in the social
justice field or doing social justice work, but it also is often done
within those doing the work. This perpetuates the system but
literally silencing the ones discussing it.
I am sure there are more of these since lists like this are never complete so if you have additions, corrections or suggests please send me a message or leave a comment! Thanks.