The Psychology of Oppression

ISBN:

978-0-8261-7816-9

(Print)

978-0-8261-7817-6

(eBook)
DOI:

10.1891/9780826178176

Published:

Abstract

Oppression is the antithesis of, and greatest threat to, justice. Oppression is a significant barrier to a society’s quest to be well and healthy. There is continued discrimination against women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, immigrants, and Muslims. This book provides a basic introduction to the psychology of oppression that will be useful in making oppression and social justice education more accessible to more people. It is very timely as it may reach and inform a wider range of people about various forms of oppression and how they influence peoples’ psychological experiences. The book is organized into ten chapters. The first three chapters focus on the fundamentals of oppression. Chapter one provides a brief overview of what oppression is. Chapter two deals with historically and contemporarily oppressed social groups. Chapter three presents historical and contemporary oppression. The next three chapters discuss some of the layers and complexities of oppression. Chapter four covers the evolution of oppression and how oppression may be expressed blatantly or subtly and overtly or covertly. Chapter five describes the three Is of oppression: interpersonal, institutional, and internalized. Chapter six presents the psychological and mental health implications of oppression. The chapters 7 through 9, discuss why oppression exists and continues to persist throughout history. Chapter seven presents the social psychological theories on the existence and persistence of oppression. Chapter eight and nine describes addressing oppression in both clinical and community contexts. The final chapter presents some suggestions about future psychological work on oppression across research, clinical, and community contexts.

CHAPTER 10: Future Directions: Some Suggestions for the Continued Growth of Psychological Work on Oppression

DOI:

10.1891/9780826178176.0010

Abstract

Although there seemingly is a lot of research, clinical efforts, and community work that have already been done on oppression, it does not mean that we now understand everything about it and that we know exactly how to best address it. Indeed, there are still plenty of gaps and holes in our understanding of oppression, and there is still plenty of work to do in the field of psychology to build on what we have now and continue to contribute to our society’s collective efforts to eliminate oppression. In other words, there are still plenty of ways for psychology to help address oppression and help create a more fair, just, and healthy society! To this end, the authors close the book with some general suggestions for the continued growth of psychological work on oppression.