...“The Burning of Paper Instead of Children,” Rich’s thought-provoking use of words and language relates to the cycle of oppression. Rich believes that through verbal exchanges, individuals are passing down oppressed ideas to one another, furthering the colonization of the mind. In the verse “…knowledge of the oppressor/ this is the oppressor’s language/ yet I need it to talk to you,” Rich depicts the paradoxical nature of society’s colonization of the mind and her conscious effort to be free of such mindset. Rich is fully aware of the knowledge that she is citing and the language that she is speaking is tainted with the oppressor’s – society’s – ideals. Yet she also believes that these two elements are needed in today’s everyday communication. It is dangerous when an act as natural as interacting with others can be oppressive, because language is an extremely powerful tool. All forms of languages, such as verbal exchange, body language and sign languages to name a few, are capable of changing perspectives of others. When used appropriately, people can use languages to end the outcomes of mind colonizing, such as racial stereotypes and racial superiority. However, most people abuse their ability to connect with others and use communication as means of perpetuating judgment of “others” and marginalizing certain groups, which ultimately results in a nonstop cycle of oppression. In the verses “…and they take the book away/ love and fear in a house/ knowledge of the oppressor,” Rich describes...
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...victories and excluding wrongdoings. The oppression of minorities is left out of the historical narrative, which propels the cycle of maltreatment and cultural violence, defined by historian Johan Galtung as a “prominent social norm that make direct and structural violence seem “natural”, “right” or acceptable…[and include] stories that normalize the marginalization and dehumanization of others” (Galtung). In order to end the suppression of people who have been defeated throughout history, it is crucial to write about the past with the viewpoint of minorities in mind. American historian Howard Zinn writes the history of oppressed Natives instead of the...
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...Oppression regimes Oppression is defined as unjust or cruel exercise of authority and power. In a social justice context, oppression is what happens when people are pushed down by societies. Oppression usually refers to a great power such as government applying control over a large group, such as the population of a country. The Youth Action Center of Canada identifies six main forms of oppression based on race, gender, class, sex, ability and age. Oppression can be categorised into four different groups, social oppression, institutionalised oppression, systematic oppression and internalized oppression. Kite runner: In the novel, Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini, many occasions are reflective of situations that occur in reality. Oppression is a prevalent theme throughout the novel, just as oppression is prevalent in society. Many oppression regimes have become adopted by society causing some forms of oppression to go unnoticed because it is accepted as a part of social structure. If people try to break out of the social code, they are usually silenced unless more people follow the lead of the rebels and change the inequality that is occurring. Many different people can be oppressed for different reasons and in Kite Runner, racism and ableism are two forms of oppression that are addressed. The novel shows how both of these ostracized people are being oppressed because of their race, or disability. People need to open their eyes and see the oppression that is going on...
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...Since the implementation of the transatlantic slave trade, African Americans have faced consistent social, economic, and cultural oppression in the United States of America. Originally taken from their home continent of Africa, shoved into cramped boats with little food or water, and enslaved for several generations under wealthy white men, African Americans have endured cycles of poverty, poor education, and blatant discrimination and segregation since the abolition of slavery. However, despite this seemingly unendurable oppression, the African-American community is consistently empowered with movements such as the Black Lives Matter and the African-American Civil Rights Movement. The persecution towards African Americans, unintentionally, engenders a newfound sense of independence, formed to combat the oppression the community faces, within the African-American community....
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...A thousand splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Music: Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah fade out in the background. Song ends play river flows in you by Yiruma in the background Host: Welcome back listeners, to literacy 98.3. That was hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. It’s time for our weekly review, as you all know this week we are exploring the theme oppression. This week’s book is A thousand splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, author of the bestseller the Kite runner. I have with me, Ms. Kathryn Stockett, Reclaimed author of one for the most insightful books, The Help. Welcome Kathryn, we happy to have you with us. Kathryn Stockett: Thank you for having me Host: Kathryn could you tell those who are listening, what oppression means to you, and if you don’t mind give us a summary of the book A thousand Splendid Suns Kathryn Stockett: Oppression to me means dominating somebody (or a group of people), through cruelty, or harshness. One is oppressive if he/she is the source of worry stress or trouble to others. A thousand splendid suns is at one an incredible chronicle of thirty years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith and the salvation to be found in love....
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...belief system that devalues lesbians, gay males, and bisexuals – or any group that is not exclusively heterosexual. Feminist/ Feminism: women and men should be socially, economically, and legally equal. Women and men who hold these beliefs are feminists, however many people believe in feminist principles, even if they do not identify themselves as feminists. Cultural Feminism: emphasizes the positive qualities that are presumed to be strong in women than in men qualities such as nurturing and caretaking. (Cooperation) Liberal Feminism: emphasizes the goal of gender equality, giving women and men the same rights and opportunities. (Reduce our culture’s rigid gender roles) Radical Feminism: argues that the basic cause of women’s oppression lies deep in the entire sex and gender system, rather than in some superficial laws and policies. (Dramatically change its policies on sexuality and on violence against women) Women-of-Color Feminism: emphasize that feminism must pay attention to other human dimensions such as ethnicity and social class. Similarities perspective:...
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...Joe should remove the explicit pictures of Jane as well as those of any other women on his personal website. His failure to do so would result in the propagation of a culture condoning misogyny, the causation of a cycle of female disenfranchisement, the establishment of a norm of objectifying women. Joe should only be hastened in his action by Jane’s request, they should be based on the ethical and social implications thereof. In this scenario, Jane’s faculties were impaired as a result of her intoxication, and her sexually explicit behavior following the prodding of males was not made in a state of sound mind. Joe’s decision to take pictures of her and other women in sexually compromised positions was made as a result of the freedom Joe had....
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...aim to explain how privilege and oppression intersect to shape my perspectives, values, expectations, and beliefs. First, my racial identity as a white person gave me many privileges I didn't realize.. Growing up in a predominantly white community, I was shielded from many of the harsh realities of racial inequality. My family and peers instilled in me the idea...
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...are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The aim of the many writers who collaborated on these documents is to protect the rights of liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. That government must protect these natural rights, and that political power is derived from the people. Every citizen has the right to speak freely, write, and print. Both the declaration of man and woman, and the declaration of independence were written under the oppression of two Kings considered to be a tyrants. The declaration of independence fought for the freedom from English oppression and the rights of men and women. As for the declaration of the rights of Man and Woman, fought for the rights of the French people under the oppression of king Louis XVI. Both declarations were written to protect the rights of the people who wrote them, as well as ensure a future not governed by a dictator, but one that is governed by the natural imprescriptible rights of free Men and Women. Many of the rights created by these declarations were put in place to protect the equal rights of men and women. The aim of these documents is to protect the rights of liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. The declaration of independence states the history of the oppression, usurpation, and injuries by...
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...Introduction Oppression and resilience of people have been in practice since the beginning of human existence. Oppression can be defined as a person or group of people weighted down by a dominant force. This force has the power to define and label groups. They control societal ideologies of every aspect of our lives including sexuality, family relationships, and self respect. Those who have this power hold it sacred and dear. Their fear of a power shift from the dominant to the subordinate or the majority to the minority continues to guide them in enforcing ideas and laws within society that a particular gender or race has little or no value. Resilience is the ability of those oppressed to continue surviving after being compressed by such a powerful force. It is the oppressive forces of the majority group that have smothered minority groups (women and people of color) for hundreds of years and it is the resilience of those oppressed who continue to inspire change throughout history. Historical Oppressive Forces The Noel Hypothesis is a social learning theory that explains the development of a minority group. It suggest that if two or more groups come together characterized by a differential in power, ethnocentrism, and competition the result will be ethnic/racial stratification (Guadalupe lecture notes, 2008). This theory can also be used to explain the development of gender stratification as well. The majority group in relationship to this paper would be...
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...The perpetuation of these stereotypes permeated the public perception of African American people and exacerbated the malformed biases that had already taken hold. These biases shaped public opinion, legal proceedings, and the criminal justice system in conjunction. According to the Harvard Library’s resource, “Criminal Justice”, “Some of the first organized “police forces” in the United States were slave patrols in the American South.” The modern criminal justice system, it is therefore evidenced, has its roots in the systematic oppression of African-Americans dating back to the 1600s. Eventually, despite great hardship, policies and laws that granted African Americans more rights began to be implemented, like Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. However, many laws and restrictions that were counterintuitive to the progress being achieved were put in place with the intention of greatly limiting the few freedoms afforded to African...
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...As explained in class, intersectionality is a complex topic as it makes the idea of oppression become much more complex itself. The two quotes explain how society as a whole likes to view the idea of privilege and oppression and simple things. One is discriminated against because they are either African American or a woman, not because they are African American and a woman. This also goes the other way around. If one is white in a white-dominated society, they are naturally going to be privileged, but females experience this privilege at a far lesser extent than their male counterparts, just as African American women are more disadvantaged than African American men despite being the same race. The single-story quote best explains this. As...
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...of the present world and life (Pals, 141). Marx insists that religion is a condition that requires illusions. He also ascertained that the elimination of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. Marx in reference to illusions stated that, “To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions” (Marx). Both Hindus and Buddhists have illusions that they believe will be responsible for their salvation and Enlightenment. According to Marx, religion stems from the unhappiness that one feels. The pain that is felt by the poor can be eased by their fantasies of a supernatural world, where sorrows end, and oppression vanishes (Pals, 135). Christians are not the only religious sect that has a belief in a supernatural...
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...situation the marginalized groups faces and change the paradigm. Oppression is a process that evolved over time and it will take time to resolve the mindset of the groups involved. Freire (2014) illustrates the need for patience and understanding on a deeper level. The foundation of his theory of cultural action is education. Transformation for both the oppressor and the...
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...Violence: The Final Face of Oppression Violence is perhaps the most omnipotent face of oppression, it can be the worst case scenario for the other four faces of oppression or act as an underlying factor, which gives it ultimate power. When people think of violence they often think of physicality, but the true power of violence comes within its ability to take on multiple forms. You can inflict psychological violence, cultural violence , sexual violence and even emotional violence on a person or social group. Because of the power that violence possess it is every bit as ubiquitous, if not more, as powerlessness can be. America has institutionalized the faces of oppression. It is in educational systems, it is in prison systems, and it...
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