ed oppression: The enemy within, In NTL, Reading book for | * edition) (pp, 97-102). Fletcher, B. (1999). Internalize usnan relations training (2 Internalized Oppression: The Enemy Within 3.5 Internalized Oppression: Oppression is a sociological concept relating to power in which a dominant privileged group is “one-up” and another group is “one-down.” In this power-over relationship the dominant group benefits and the oppressed group loses. Oppression can then be defined. as prejudice and/or bigotry against, plus power-over an. identifiable group of people by an identifiable dominant group of people. The key concept of group social power-over distinguishes oppression from singular ideas like prejudice or bigotry in that group social power-over involves the power of the privileged or dominant group to reward, punish, fprant, withhold of take away something of value. Both prejudice and bigotry are individual concepts involving the process of selective perception and stereotyping; whereas, oppression is a group concept that involves individual prejudice and/or bigotry as ‘well as group social power-over. Reverse oppression cannot occur within this definition involving power- The Enemy Within Beverly R. Fletcher over relationships since oppressed groups have n0 power to reward, punish, grant, withhold or take away group privilege (Table 1). Oppression as defined here is supported and perpetuated by two powerful and integrally Interrelated forces: institutionalized oppression and internalized oppression (Figure 1). According to Love (1989), these two forces together hold oppression in place in our society. Institutionalized Oppression Institutionalized oppression is one of the two pillars of Love's model that hold oppression in place. Since the 1950s, a significant amount of individual ‘and combined effort has gone into challenging, ‘changing and attempting to change oppressive practices embedded in our society's institutions. Institutionalized oppression refers to any form or category of oppression (e.g., racism, heterosexism, classism, sexism) perpetuated by ‘Table 1, Examples of Privileged and Oppressed Groups in the USA. (Note: This table gives examples that are not meant to be exhaustive.) Privileged Dominant Groups Oppressed Groups + Males + Whites (Caucasian) Females People of Color + Heterosexual Gay, lesbian and bisexual people + Rich, Owning Class and Middle-Class People Poor People (includes working class poor) + Non-elderly Adults Children and the Elderly + Able-bodied/mind People Physically and Mentally Challenged PeopleReading Book for Human Relations Training Institutionalized Oppression Figure 1. Pillars of Oppression. OPPRESSION (“ISMS”) Internalized Oppression Barbara Love (1989) University of Massachusetts at Amherst. the structures and institutions of a society. This includes various organizations in the economic system, the political system, organized religion, the family and so on, Institutionalized oppression ray also be referred to as, institutionalized racism, institutionalized sexism, institwionalized classimt, etc. —_Institionalized ‘oppression is characterized by a privileged elite who enjoy benefits and rewards by virtue of their membership in the privileged category and at the expense of an oppressed group. The practices of institutionalized oppression are so deeply embedded in an institution's cultural norms and policies that they are ofiea pexpetuated without the conscious awareness of those in power. Those who bring attention to institutionalized inequities in a system are often 98 ostracized and labeled “trouble-makers" or are given other mote derogatory designations, Some examples of institutionalized oppression are: + The “glass ceiling"—practices that result in the climination of people who are different (mostly Women and People of Color) from the White rales at the top of the power hierarchy. The “sticky floor’—practices that result in certain positions at the bottom of the power hierarchy being filled only by Women or People of Color. Internalized Oppression “The other pillar holding oppression in place in Love's mode! is internalized oppression. Of the two forces, perhaps interalized oppression is more sinister because it is an “enemy from within.” Internalized oppression operates from the inside to sabotageInternalized Oppressiot individuals and groups as they struggle to survive ‘under oppressive conditions. ‘This intemal enemy is not usually confronted directly by those who work against oppression. Onc reason for the lack of attention to intealized oppression is the occurence of an attitude or backlash whem the subject is broached. A common response is the accusation that one bas bought into the “bootstrap” mentality (as in “pulling oneself up by one's bootstraps”—2 physical impossibility without suppor); another is that one has fallen prey to a “blaming the victim" philosophy. Both statements are Jaden with assumptions and sidestep the issue. Their effect is often to silence the voice of inquiry making it particularly difficult for oppressed people 0 challenge cach other about issues involving internalized oppression. “Internalized oppression can pertain to any category of oppression: racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, cle, Itresults from oppressed groups of people being, immersed in negative images of themselves and accepting (either consciously or unconsciously) as “truth” the misinformation, prejudicial perceptions, attitudes, bebaviors, symbols and stereotypes of the dominant group. Interalized oppression may also be referred to as internalized sexism, internalized racism, internalized heterosexism, etc. In all forms of internalized oppression, levels of expectation are lowered. This causes a vicious downward spiral in which oppressed people play out negative self fulfiling prophecies about themselves; thus, reinforcing even lower levels of expectation. As a cbild, I remember my mother reminding me: “ticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you.” I have since learned that this ‘was a mantra of sorts, designed to lessen the sting of hhurtiul things that were said, Not only do negative words hurt, oppressed people are also harmed by negative expectations and by internalizing negative images, symbols, stereatypes and labels. Internalized oppression can take at least two forms. ‘One, holding others back and the other, holding oneself back. Lam reminded of a story I heard several ‘years ago that illustrates the former. Two people were Teisucely walking along a beach collecting crabs and depositing them into shallow pails that cach carried. ‘After some time had passed, one person turaed t0 the other and exclaimed, "Why is your pail full of crabs 99 The Enemy Within while mine is almost empty? We've bee picking them ‘up at about the same rate!” The other person answered, “Well, you see I select only female crabs.” Puzzled, the first person asked, “Why should that make any difference?” To this question the other answered, “They bold each other back.” This joke is a parable that speaks of one critical aspect of the “enemy ‘wbin"—the process of oppressed people holding cach bther back through overt or covert actions of lack of action, ‘Another more insidious aspect of internalized ‘oppression is the process of holding oneself back through lack of belief in ones abilities or poor self esteem, Together, these two critical aspects of | internalized oppression (the holding back of oneself and others like oneself) along with institutionalized foppression, act to perpetiate oppression in our society. Examples of internalized oppression abound; below are several blatant expressions of internalized oppression: + Women who dislike women supervisors to the point of acting in ways that sabotage women above them in the organizational hierarchy. Or women who would not consider the possibility of applying for leadership positions in organizations— believing, on some level, that women are innately incompetent in leadership positions. + Gays and lesbians who are homophobic to the point of seeking out and disclosing the sexual orientation of other gays and lesbians in hostile cenvironments—immersed in the stereotypes of the dominant group, these same-sex-identified people respond to their own sexual orientation in others ‘with fear, shame or anger. + Young Black men who hate their own images in other people like themselves to the extent that they ‘kill each other in alarming numbers. The result is that a great danger to young Africen-American men are other young Black men. ‘There are several suppositions about the nature of internalized oppression that inform our understanding of the phenomenon. Some Observations About Internalized Oppression = Internalized oppression is a common, pervasive ‘and understandable phenomenon among all ‘oppressed peoples (e.g., People of Color, womes, gays, lesbians), + Intemnalized oppression is a complex phenomenon. Internalized oppression, like the oppression it