This document defines key terms related to discrimination, oppression, and levels of oppression. It defines discrimination as making a biased distinction in favor of or against a person. Oppression is defined as a system that perpetuates an imbalance of advantages and resources based on perceived social group memberships. The document also outlines three levels of oppression: individual (examples include bullying and microaggressions), societal (examples include inequality in pay and representation), and institutional (examples include higher insurance costs in poor communities and discriminatory voting policies).

1. Diversity Inclusion Community and Equity
POWER AND
OPPRESSION
D E F I N I N G T O B E T T E R
U N D E R S T A N D :
North East Block

2. Discrimination
Oppression
Prejudice
Negative biased
attitudes and beliefs
Making a biased distinction
in favor or against a person
A system that perpetuates an
imbalance of advantages and
resources based on
percieved social group
memberships

3. Levels of Oppression
and Discrimintation

4. Individual
Examples
Interpersonal bullying
Sexist or Racist
Microaggressions and
Bias
Stereotyping
racial profiling
One person's actions that
reflect prejudice against a
target group

5. Societal
Examples
Inequality of pay and professional
representation for women.
Representation in police forces,
government agencies
Social norms and customs that
have a differential and/or
harmful impact on more
marginalized groups, whether or
not they are so intended. These
norms almost always have a
historical
significance.

6. Institutional
Examples
Higher health insurance premiums
in poor communities.
Voting exclusion or discrimination
against poor and immigrant
communities.
Policies, laws, or rules enacted
by organizations and institutions
that disadvantage marginalized
groups and advantage
privileged groups. These
institutions include religions,
government, education, law, the
media, and health care system.