The document defines oppression as "a system that maintains advantages and disadvantages based on social group memberships and operates intentionally and unintentionally, on individual, institutional and cultural levels." It discusses common labels used to describe oppressed and oppressor groups. Privilege is defined as "social advantages, benefits, or degrees of prestige and respect that an individual has by virtue of belonging to certain social identity group." Dominant and subordinate groups are discussed along with the impact of privilege/oppression. The document also covers intersectionality, oppression matrices, microaggressions, common examples of racial, gender, LGBT, and religious microaggressions, and considerations for whether and how to respond to microaggressions.

1. OPPRESSION
ESCP 2000

2. OPPRESSION
“A system that maintains advantages
and disadvantages based on social
group memberships and operates
intentionally and unintentionally, on
individual, institutional and cultural
levels.”*
• Abuse of power by one group at the
expense of others and the use of
force or control to maintain this
dynamic
• Resources, access, rights, and choices

3. COMMON LABELS
Oppressed Groups:
Targets or “the
targeted”
Victims
Disadvantaged
Subordinates or
“the
subordinated”
Oppressor Groups:
Advantage
d
Dominants
Agents
Privileged
Can vary depending on theoretical, political, pedagogical, and strategic consider

4. PRIVILEGE
• “…social advantages, benefits, or degrees of prestige and respect
that an individual has by virtue of belonging to certain social identity
group.” *
• Having something of value that is denied to others simply because
of the groups they belong to
• Can be earned or unearned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K5fbQ1-zps

5. DOMINANT &
SUBORDINATE
GROUPS
Christian

6. IMPACT
PRIVILEGE/DOMINANT
• High levels of stress
• Guilt from unearned privilege
• Distorted view of reality of world
• Oblivious in own role in the issue
• Fear of payback
OPPRESSED/NON-DOMINANT
• High levels of stress
• Anger or resentment
• Sense of being silenced
• Dissonance
• Low self-esteem
• Sense of hopelessness and
disempowerment

7. INTERSECTIONALITY
• Interaction of our social identity to
showcase advantages (privilege) and
disadvantages (oppression) at each
varying level.
• The more marginalized identities
present, the higher amount of oppression

8. OPPRESSIO
N MATRIX

9. MICROAGGRESSIONS
• Microassaults
• Conscious bias or attitudes; directly and public expressed
• Examples: anti-LGBT legislation, bullying, hair discrimination
• Microinsults
• Outside of consciousness; interpersonal interactions or environmental cues
• Example: often a snub disguised as a compliment; “you speak so well”; sexual
objectification of women’s bodies as a commodity
• Microinvalidations
• Dismisses or denies experiential realities of targets
• Has the ability to undermine an appreciation of diversity
• Example: “colorblindness”- We are all one race, the human race

10. ABOUT ME: KYMBRIONA
Salient Identity: Christian
• Value of spirituality
• Sense of purpose
• Foundation for coping in difficult
situations
• Assumptions that I am judgmental
• Assumptions that I am not
“Christian-enough”
Salient Identity: Black
• Earliest experience: hair
insecurities & discrimination
• Challenges of my ”blackness”
• Traumatic experiences shaped
my career goals and interests
• Doctoral research
interests: Mental health in
the Black community

11. MICROAGRRESSIONS IN REAL LIFE
WHAT DID YOU
OBSERVE?
WHAT DO YOU
PERSONALLY RELATE
TO?
ANY OBJECTIONS?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZahtlxW2CIQ

12. COMMON
EXAMPLES
Microaggressions Guide
Racial
•Assumptions of Criminality (i.e., when people of color are assumed to be dangerous or deviant). For instance, if a clerk follows an
African A5merican around in a store, she or he is presuming that the person of color is going to steal.
•Exoticization (i.e., when people of color are objectified or treated as tokens). A common occurrence is when a man tells an Asian
American woman that she is so “exotic,” or that “he has an Asian fetish.”
•Assumptions of Intellectual Inferiority (i.e., when people of color are assumed to be less intelligent or capable than whites). An example
is someone overemphasizing to a Latina that she is “so articulate” (subtly communicating that they did not expect her to be).
•Pathologizing Cultural Values (i.e., when people of color are criticized for their communica- tion styles, behaviors, styles of dress). For
instance, when an Asian American or Latin6a/o is told to “get rid of your accent,” a subtle message is sent that one needs to assimilate.
Gender
•Sexual Objectification (i.e., when a woman is treated as a sexual object). For instance, when a woman is catcalled on the street or a man
attempts to look at a woman’s breasts, he is communicating that women’s bodies are allowed to be sexualized.
•Assumptions of Traditional Gender Roles (i.e., when an individual assumes that a woman needs to uphold traditional gender roles). For
example, many women are told that they need to have a husband in order to be happy.
•Assumptions of Inferiority (i.e., when a woman is assumed to be physically or intellectually incompetent, particularly in comparison to
men). One illustration is when a woman is carrying a box and a man 7takes it away from her (without her permission), assuming she isn’t
physically strong.
LGBT
•Use of heterosexist or transphobic terminology (i.e., when offensive language is used towards or about LGBT people). For instance, it is
commonplace for young people to use the word “faggot” casually when describing someone as weak.
•Discomfort/ Disapproval of LGBT experience (i.e., when LGBT individuals are treated with disrespect or condemnation because of their
sexual orientation or gender presentation). One example includes a person staring at a same-sex couple holding hands, while another
may be someone who makes prejudicial remarks about a transgender person.
•Assumption of Sexual Pathology and Abnormality (i.e., when LGBT persons are presumed to be oversexualized or sexual deviants). One
instance includes when someone presumes that all LGBT people may have HIV/AIDS, or stereotypes LGBT people as child molesters.
Religious
•Endorsing religious stereotypes (i.e., when people make presumptions about religious minority groups). An example is when so8meone
makes a joke about Muslim people being terrorists or Jewish people being cheap.
•Pathology of different religious groups (i.e., when someone judges another religion as being inferior or subs9tandard). For instance,
when someone treats a non-Christian as a second-class citizen.
Intersectional
•Occurs as a result of an individual’s multiple groups and may influence the intensity or frequency of microaggressions.
•Women of color may experience intersectional microaggressions, as a result of their gender and race (e.g., a Latina who is denied
service at a restaurant or store because of both her race and gender).
•LGBT persons of color may experience intersectional microaggressions as a result of their sexual identity and race. For example, when a
passersby ridicules a Black transgender woman, it can be due to her gender identity, her race, or both.

13. SHOULD I RESPOND?
1. If I respond, could my physical safety be in danger?
2. If I respond, will the person become defensive and will this lead to
an argument?
3. If I respond, how will this affect my relationship with this person
(e.g., coworker, family member, etc.)
4. If I don’t respond, will I regret not saying something?
5. If I don't respond, does that convey that I accept the behavior or
statement?

14. WHAT IF I COMMIT A
MICROAGGRESSION?
Own up to it Validate
Be mindful
of your
language