Sociology Oppression

Question 1

Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, or the state of being oppressed mentally or physically. There are five faces of oppression namely exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence. ( Oppression | Define Oppression at Dictionary.com).

Exploitation is using one’s labor for profit but not compensating them fairly. An example of exploitation can be sex trafficking; children being forced into sex trade. Another example can be children working in sweatshops. These children are being forced into labor and are not being compensated fairly if even being compensated at all. Exploitation uses the means of capitalism to oppress people. By this means of capitalism, classism is being created. Capitalism creates a system that keeps the rich richer and the poor poorer. The rich end up exploiting the poor for their hard work. Marginalization is the act of downgrading or restricting a group of people. Basically, it is a process of exclusion.

Workers in lower-status jobs experience more powerlessness than workers with professional jobs. An example of powerlessness is called cultural dominance which is also a face of oppression. Oppressed people feel so powerless that they do not even talk about their oppression. I some cultures it is forbidden to even mention the injustices that are being committed. The oppressed are silenced. Slavery in the United States is a prime example. Slaves were forbidden to talk to one another about their unpleasant situations and the system put so much fear into them they were too afraid to even speak up. This fear makes the oppressed feel and even actually believe that they are lesser. They are taught by oppressors that their inferiority is normal and a fact of