SOCI WEEK 04 summary
Diversity basis and social inclusion- Oppression
Power refers to the ability to do what you want and makes others do what you want, even in the
face of diversity. According to who holds power, it generates discrimination and stratification
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION happens when society (to a certain extent) determines social
conditions that individual’s find themselves in.
Oppression represents the condition in which certain groups' rights and freedom are oppressed.
There're 5 different ways in which oppression can be manifested:
1. Exploitation refers to the unfair use of people's time or labour without compensating them
fairly
2. Marginalization is the process of pushing groups or individuals that have less social power
to the margins of the society
3. Powerlessness occurs when the dominant groups have left the subordinate one with no
access to their rights and privileges (which they enjoy)
4. Cultural imperialism happens when the dominant group think that their values and beliefs
are the best one and for this reason, they should be the norms of the society
5. Violence refers to the intentional use of physical force or power, to cause death, injury, or
harm
Another important topic is related to the practice of labeling people and we must talk about
stereotypes that generalize behaviors or characteristics of members of certain groups.
Stereotype is a label that may have some basis in fact, but that has been grossly over-generalized
and applied to a particular segment of society.
Prejudice is very similar to stereotyping, but it's more related to discriminatory behavior. The term
refers to a negative attitude based on learned notions about members of selected groups, based on
their physical, social, or cultural characteristics.
Sometimes prejudice can result in ethnocentrism which refers to the tendency to regard one's own
culture and the group as the standard and superior, while the others are inferior.
Ableism refers to the set of ideas and attitudes that define "normal" abilities of people, and that
allocates inferior status and value to individuals who have developmental, emotional, physical, or
psychiatric disabilities.
The term Ageism refers to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against individuals or groups
because of their age. For example the tendency to view seniors as unable to work or being fragile.
Other issues linked to oppression are classism, heterosexism, and racism.
Classism refers to the systematic oppression of the dominant class on subordinate classes in other
to gain advantage and power in their positions
Heterosexism refers to the belief in the natural superiority of heterosexuality as the way of life and
for instance its logical right to dominance. Comprised of a system of ideas and institutionalized
beliefs, it leads to the oppression of any non-heterosexual form of behavior, relationship, identity, or
community.
Racism is an ideology that either directly or indirectly asserts that one group is superior to other,
with the power to put this ideology into practice in a way that gives advantages, privilege, and
power to certain groups, and conversely, can disadvantage or limit the opportunities od the
racialized groups.
Diversity basis and social inclusion- Oppression
Power refers to the ability to do what you want and makes others do what you want, even in the
face of diversity. According to who holds power, it generates discrimination and stratification
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION happens when society (to a certain extent) determines social
conditions that individual’s find themselves in.
Oppression represents the condition in which certain groups' rights and freedom are oppressed.
There're 5 different ways in which oppression can be manifested:
1. Exploitation refers to the unfair use of people's time or labour without compensating them
fairly
2. Marginalization is the process of pushing groups or individuals that have less social power
to the margins of the society
3. Powerlessness occurs when the dominant groups have left the subordinate one with no
access to their rights and privileges (which they enjoy)
4. Cultural imperialism happens when the dominant group think that their values and beliefs
are the best one and for this reason, they should be the norms of the society
5. Violence refers to the intentional use of physical force or power, to cause death, injury, or
harm
Another important topic is related to the practice of labeling people and we must talk about
stereotypes that generalize behaviors or characteristics of members of certain groups.
Stereotype is a label that may have some basis in fact, but that has been grossly over-generalized
and applied to a particular segment of society.
Prejudice is very similar to stereotyping, but it's more related to discriminatory behavior. The term
refers to a negative attitude based on learned notions about members of selected groups, based on
their physical, social, or cultural characteristics.
Sometimes prejudice can result in ethnocentrism which refers to the tendency to regard one's own
culture and the group as the standard and superior, while the others are inferior.
Ableism refers to the set of ideas and attitudes that define "normal" abilities of people, and that
allocates inferior status and value to individuals who have developmental, emotional, physical, or
psychiatric disabilities.
The term Ageism refers to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against individuals or groups
because of their age. For example the tendency to view seniors as unable to work or being fragile.
Other issues linked to oppression are classism, heterosexism, and racism.
Classism refers to the systematic oppression of the dominant class on subordinate classes in other
to gain advantage and power in their positions
Heterosexism refers to the belief in the natural superiority of heterosexuality as the way of life and
for instance its logical right to dominance. Comprised of a system of ideas and institutionalized
beliefs, it leads to the oppression of any non-heterosexual form of behavior, relationship, identity, or
community.
Racism is an ideology that either directly or indirectly asserts that one group is superior to other,
with the power to put this ideology into practice in a way that gives advantages, privilege, and
power to certain groups, and conversely, can disadvantage or limit the opportunities od the
racialized groups.
