Figure 4. Circles of Intersectionality
Evidence-Based Practice: The authors argue that the “minority model” framework of disability rights has been racialized in ways that center the experiences of White, middle-class disabled Americans. Note : From “Race and disability: From analogy to intersectionality,” by Frederick, A., et al., 2019. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity, 5(2), 200–214. Oppression, Privilege, and Marginalization Oppression Understanding the concepts of oppression, privilege, and
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).
marginalization is essential for practicing cultural humility. Various aspects of individual identities oppress or privilege a person and their marginalization or empowerment. Oppression can be defined as an “unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power” (Merriam-Webster, 2021). It refers to a person or group that knowingly or unknowingly abuses a specific group or individual. Further, the word “oppression” comes from the Latin root “primere”, which means “pressed 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
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