Legos and the 4 I's of Oppression

Summary

This video explains the four interconnected aspects of oppression: ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized. It highlights how each form builds upon the other, with ideological oppression being the foundation of negative stereotypes and biases that are then reinforced by institutions. Interpersonal oppression is the discrimination people face daily, while internalized oppression occurs when marginalized individuals accept negative beliefs about themselves. Understanding these levels is key to dismantling oppression effectively, as efforts must target all four simultaneously to create lasting change.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Oppression consists of four interlocking aspects: ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized. Understanding each type is crucial to combat oppression effectively.
• 📜 Ideological oppression is the root of all forms of oppression. It involves the belief that one group is superior to another, leading to discriminatory ideas such as racism, classism, and sexism.
• 🏛️ Institutional oppression manifests the dominant ideology through systems and institutions, such as legal rights, access to education, healthcare, public policy, and media representation.
• 💼 Examples of institutional oppression include gender pay gaps (institutional sexism) and inaccessible buildings (institutional ableism).
• 👥 Interpersonal oppression happens between individuals, taking forms like microaggressions, jokes, stereotypes, harassment, and violence.
• 🗣️ Common examples of interpersonal oppression include bullying of LGBTQ+ individuals (interpersonal homophobia) and harassment of Muslims (interpersonal Islamophobia).
• 🌀 Internalized oppression occurs when marginalized individuals absorb negative beliefs about themselves, leading them to feel inferior.
• 💭 Examples of internalized oppression include immigrants feeling ashamed of their accents (internalized xenophobia) and trans individuals doubting their gender identity (internalized transphobia).
• 🔄 The four types of oppression are interconnected and reinforce each other, creating a continuous cycle that perpetuates discrimination and inequality.
• 🚀 To dismantle oppression, it's essential to address it at all four levels—ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized.

Q & A

What are the four interlocking aspects of oppression mentioned in the video?

The four interlocking aspects of oppression are ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized.

How does ideological oppression serve as the foundation for other forms of oppression?

Ideological oppression is rooted in the belief that one group is superior to another. It creates the overarching idea that leads to various 'isms' like racism, sexism, or classism, and drives the other forms of oppression.

Can you give examples of ideological oppression mentioned in the video?

Examples include the belief that Black people are dangerous (ideological racism) and that poor people are lazy (ideological classism).

What role does institutional oppression play in sustaining inequality?

Institutional oppression manifests the dominant ideology through systems and institutions, controlling access to resources like legal rights, education, healthcare, and political power, which perpetuates inequality.

What are some examples of institutional oppression provided in the video?

Examples include women earning two-thirds of what men earn (institutional sexism) and buildings without wheelchair ramps (institutional ableism).

Why is interpersonal oppression the easiest form to recognize?

Interpersonal oppression is the easiest to recognize because it happens in everyday interactions, often taking the form of jokes, stereotypes, microaggressions, or harassment.

What examples of interpersonal oppression are mentioned?

Examples include a student being bullied for being gay (interpersonal homophobia) and a Muslim person being called a terrorist (interpersonal Islamophobia).

How does internalized oppression affect marginalized individuals?

Internalized oppression leads marginalized individuals to absorb and believe the negative stereotypes and narratives of their own inferiority, causing them to feel 'less than' or unworthy.

Can you provide examples of internalized oppression discussed in the video?

Examples include an immigrant feeling embarrassed about their accent (internalized xenophobia) and a trans woman believing she can never be a 'real woman' (internalized transphobia).

How are the four forms of oppression interconnected?

The four forms of oppression—ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized—are interconnected and support one another in a cyclical manner. None of these forms can exist independently.