Oppression

bserved that this philosophy becomes so much agroups are placed in an inferior position.
part of the oppressors’ ideologies, that inConditions of life, resources and opportunities
most cases they are not aware of their guilt. Onlyavailable to the others are denied to the
when the ideology of oppression has been installeddisadvantaged group, making their life even
and established from early childhood, the distressworse. To combat racism, social workers need to
patterns of adult oppression are internalized ascorrect social policies and institutional practices, so
the norm. Under such circumstances alone is itthat equal advantages are available to all.
possible for a person or group to get manipulatedInternalized form of oppression happens within a
into the oppressor’s role, or can a persongroup or class of people, who habitually discourage
or group remain in the oppressed role.each other due to hopelessness. Among a group
Class oppression ensures exploitation of theof blacks a white man can speak clearly to rid the
economically weak by the system of divide andgroup of their self-inflicted oppression of
rule. The division may be along lines of gender,internalized racism.
age, race, physical ability, physical handicap, etc.Oppression and domination are present in the
Exploitation can be stopped legally, to protect therelationships that exist between individuals, social
weaker group. Though race is sometimesgroups, classes and societies. These relationships
identified with skin colour, the circumstances ofof oppression and domination are rooted in
race are not confined to colour. Racialsociety’s values of separation, hierarchy
discrimination refers to deliberate methods byand competition.
which people belonging to particular racial or ethnic