Five Characteristics Of Oppression

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Oppression is cruel and unjust treatment to a particular group through systems that discriminate or give privilege to groups based on perceived or real differences (Shaw & Lee, 2015, p.54). In those systems of oppression, there are five characteristics, described by Iris Young, that gives and maintains power and privilege to one group by hurting another. The first characteristic described by Young in Shaw and Lee (2015) is exploitation, the transfer of energy and results of labor from the subordinated group to benefit the dominant group (p.53). An example of this is the slaves who worked on the field. White slave owners gained produce and products at no cost and also maintained their power over the slaves because of the forced situation that …show more content…
In Shaw and Lee (2015), social scripts provide the guideline for sexual behavior and feelings (p.314) and have the notion of compulsory heterosexuality (p.316). Thus, if you do not follow these social scripts, you are criticized and deemed inferior. Valenti (2009) describes how the cult of virginity tells girls that they must abstain from sex till marriage or they are “damaged goods” (p.334) for being sexually transgressive. Additionally, if you are not cisgender heterosexual you are discriminated against, will possibly be kicked out of your home by your parents, and in some cases not allowed to marry under law (those that are polyamorous, etc.)
3. Regimes of truth construct and maintain masculinity through deciding how a man should act and oppressing those who deviate. A “regime of truth” deems what is appropriate in today’s society (Shaw & Lee, 2015, p. …show more content…
Additionally, masculinity is maintained through systems of inequality that rank men over women in institutions. For instance, Shaw and Lee (2015) explain how gendered roles in the job market are assigned. The teaching field is dominated by women, however, as teaching becomes more prestigious, white males are taking these positions and getting paid higher salaries similar to how male sports players are considered more valuable and are paid more (p.63). Gender is also maintained in our health system since it is androcentric (Moros, 2018, Class 2/22) which means dosage amounts and diagnostics are based off of white males, but used for
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