down” (Palmer et al., 2019). Oppression is a pervasive system. It has its foundation in history and is maintained via individual and institutional systematic discrimination, personal bias, bigotry, and social prejudice. Oppression leads to a condition of privilege for the person or the group that is the oppressor(s) (National Conference for Community and Justice; NCCJ, 2021). The effects of colonialization, forced migration, slavery, and segregation do not just suddenly disappear; they can produce intergenerational trauma that affects the mental health of affected groups for many years to come (Peterson, 2022). Psychology describes oppression as states and processes that include psychological and political components of victimization, agency, and resistance, where power relations produce domination, subordination, and resistance. The oppressed group suffers greatly from multiple forms of exclusion, exploitation, control, and violence (Palmer et al., 2019). In understanding the psychology of oppression, the oppressed initially adopt “avoidance reactions,” which are responses that prevent adverse outcomes from occurring. This happens before one truly internalizes the ideologies of the oppressor, which ultimately results in self-destructive behaviors before reaching the point of internalized racism and assimilation (Palmer et al., 2019). Similar but different from oppression is power. “Power to is the ability of people to pursue personal and collective goals and to develop their own capacities. Power from is the ability to resist coercion and unwanted commands/ demands” (Palmer et al., 2019). Often, the discussions about oppression make mention of power and vice versa. Power and oppression can be said to be mirror reflections of one another in a sense or are two sides of the same coin. “Where you see the power that causes harm, you will likely see oppression” (Palmer et al., 2019). Groups without power may be subjected to restrictions and seen as expendable and replaceable, particularly by agents of oppression. This philosophy then minimizes the roles specific populations play in society. Sadly, agents of oppression often deny that this injustice occurs and blame oppressive conditions on the behaviors and actions of the oppressed group (Palmer et al., 2019). Typically, a government or political organization in power places these restrictions formally or covertly on groups so that the distribution of resources is unfairly allocated, which means power stays in the hands of those who already have it (Palmer et al., 2019). Furthermore, oppression occurs when individuals are systematically subjected to political, economic, cultural, or social degradation because they belong to a particular group; this results from structures of domination and subordination and, correspondingly, ideologies of superiority and inferiority (Palmer et al., 2019). Healthcare Professional Consideration: Emerging statistics demonstrate that COVID-19 disproportionately affects African Americans. The effects of COVID-19 for this population are inextricably linked to areas of systemic oppression and disenfranchisement, which are exacerbated by COVID-19: (1) healthcare inequality; (2) segregation, overall health, and food insecurity; (3) underrepresentation in government and the medical profession; and (4) inequalities in participatory democracy and public engagement. Note : From “Social equity and COVID-19: The case of African Americans,” by Wright, J. E., et al., 2020. Public Administration Review, 80(5), 820–826.
Reflect on your life and experiences; what experiences do you have with power and oppression? In thinking about the “two faces” of power and oppression, how have you seen power and oppression operate in your life or the life of others in your community? How might these answers impact your perspective in your work with others? Oppression is a commonly referenced term in many counseling disciplines. The term has several definitions, or in some instances, it is not defined. The varied definitions or lack of explanation lead to confusion regarding its meaning in counseling. Oppression consists of the barriers present as a result of cultural and sociopolitical forces that serve to prevent certain groups of people, based on group characteristics (e.g., LGBTQ, impoverished, African American, Muslim, etc.), from accessing resources and opportunities that are readily available to others (Seethaler, 2014; Van Soest, 2013). Barriers include restricted access to such resources and opportunities as high-quality public education and stable, well-paying jobs. Oppression is expressed systematically and enforced by cultural ideology and the threat of violence (Van Soest, 2013). It is not accidental and voidable by the populations that experience it. It is meant to maintain the current societal status quo (Seethaler, 2014). Understanding “the unavoidability of oppressive forces for many groups” (Seethaler, 2014, p. 43) is essential. Oppression is not something individuals can work their way out of or avoid by changing their behavior. In counseling, it is necessary to recognize and address the systemic nature of oppression and its role in clients’ and counselors’ lives. The power dynamic within the counseling relationship must be identified in individual counseling sessions. Attention needs to be paid to equalizing the power related to entering into a partnership with clients; the counselor and client bring essential knowledge to the relationship (Sue & Sue, 2016). As part of practicing cultural humility, counselors are called on to take an active role in addressing oppression outside the office on institutional levels and to make any power differentials that affect the client within the service environment or other areas within the client’s life. Privilege Oppression results in the privileging of certain groups and the marginalizing of other groups. Privilege is a central concept within the counseling profession and in work to address oppression. The ideas of “White privilege” and “male privilege” were clearly articulated and widely disseminated through Peggy McIntosh’s work in the 1980s. McIntosh said that White male privilege is “an invisible package of unearned assets which he can count on cashing in each day, but about which he was ‘meant’ to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, assurance, tools, maps, guides, codebooks, passports, visas, clothes, compass, emergency gear, and blank checks” (McIntosh, 1998, p. 1). Privileging is “a process where chances or odds of being offered an opportunity are altered or skewed to the advantage of members of certain groups” (Minarik, 2017, p. 55). Essentially, privilege provides some groups of individuals (e.g., White, male, heterosexual, abled, middle class) with preferred treatment in the form of unique opportunities and advantages while withholding that preference from other individuals (e.g., female, LGBTQ, disabled). Privilege can include many advantages, including the benefit of the doubt and feeling a sense of belongingness (Minarik, 2017).
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Book Code: PYTX1226
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