By Radhika Choubey and Muntaqua Ahmed
INTRODUCTION
The power structures in society, such as patriarchy, white supremacy, classism, and ableism, create a system where privileged groups hold institutional power over oppressed groups. For example, men hold political, economic, and social power under the patriarchy. This is evident in the fact that men are the ones who run companies and corporations, make and adjudicate laws, and produce knowledge. These power structures create a lack of access, opportunity, safety, security, and resources for non-dominant populations.
Oppression is a system of supremacy and discrimination that perpetuates itself through differential treatment, ideological domination, and institutional control. It reflects the inequitable distribution of current and historical structural and institutional power, where a socially constructed binary of a “dominant group” hoards power, wealth, and resources to the detriment of the many. To understand privilege and oppression, it is important to recognize that these issues are part of an interlocking system operating at the personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural levels.
Social identities are the categories that people use to identify themselves in relation to others, and they can include groups like sports teams, book clubs, or other small communities. However, when people talk about social identity, they are usually referring to larger categories like race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, class, ability, and religion.
These concepts are rooted in social interactions and help us identify ourselves in relation to people who are similar to or different from us. Our social identities convey status to us, either as members of a group or as outsiders, and this status is highly context-dependent. Dominant social identities are privileged in mainstream society, and the concept of in-groups and out-groups can explain both positive and negative human behavior.
WHY THE HUSH-HUSH?
Going about my day without worrying about revealing my sexual orientation and facing discrimination or discomfort. The immense stress and fear that LGBTQ+ individuals often experience, where even simple questions or actions can carry significant weight, leading to stereotypes or potential job loss. It's important to note that this privilege of being able to forget a part of one's identity is not limited to straight people alone. Others who blend in with societal norms can also overlook the privileges they possess. Therefore, it becomes crucial to create inclusive environments that prioritize safety and acceptance for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or other aspects of their identity.
In our current culture of social unrest, it's becoming increasingly common for some people to believe that equality and special privileges have the same meaning.
“A recent study found that 46% of LGBTQ employees are closeted in the workplace, for reasons ranging from fear of losing their job to being stereotyped”
- Harvard Business Review
It is important to recognize that this privilege of forgetting certain aspects of our identity is not exclusive to straight individuals. Each of us possesses elements of our identity that require little attention to safeguard ourselves from discrimination, danger, or insensitive jokes. People who are able-bodied, straight, or English-speaking often allow these identities to blend seamlessly into societal norms, becoming an ordinary way of being. This "ordinary privilege" is easily forgotten precisely because it aligns with the people and norms surrounding us.
The fight for equality, whether based on race, gender, sexual preference, or any other factor, includes groups that exist to eliminate special privileges and create a level playing field. The intolerant people of the world are running with the entirely inaccurate idea that oppressed sectors of society believe they should hold more power than their oppressors.
This is absolutely not true.
In the wake of the SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) same-sex marriage ruling, for example, in the United States, all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can now get married.
The straight community is outraged about the ruling, claiming it will have a negative impact on their lives. What is the actual impact of gay marriage on heterosexual individuals? The level of privilege allowed to straight people is affected, but not by the fact that it doesn't. The seesaw is leveling out as a result of the legalization of same-sex marriage. Although the straight community still has more privilege than homosexuals, they see their privilege declining and claim persecution, arguing that special rights are being granted to gay people. Hoarding privilege is no fun, even though we're getting closer to equality in reality.
This is a multifaceted idea that is not just bound to one notion;, only one stratum of society but various spectrums that face this.
WOMEN *takes a sip of Vision-नारी *
“Women leaders are switching jobs at the highest rates we’ve ever seen, and ambitious young women are prepared to do the same. To make meaningful and sustainable progress toward gender equality, companies need to go beyond table stakes. That’s according to the latest “Women in the Workplace”
-Report from McKinsey, in partnership with LeanIn.Org.
Discrimination against women can be compounded by other aspects of their identity such as race, sexual orientation, disability, and other factors. This can lead to more microaggressions and barriers to advancement. Multiple forms of discrimination can create a negative synergy, where the discrimination cannot be fully understood as the addition of criteria alone. Women from minority groups are more likely to live in poverty and experience compounded discrimination. Intersectional and compound discrimination contributes to making women's position more precarious and is an impediment to harnessing the totality of human resources needed for a better society. Perpetrators of microaggressions are often unaware that they engage in such communications when they interact with racial/ethnic minorities. It is important to assess whether programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color and other underserved groups. The lack of data on key demographic variables such as race, ethnicity, gender, disability, income, veteran status, or other factors has cascading effects and can perpetuate discrimination.
“Notably, women of color are more ambitious despite getting less support: 41 percent of women of color want to be top executives, compared with 27 percent of White women. It’s critical that companies and coworkers are aware of these dynamics, so they can more effectively promote equity and inclusion for all women.”
There are actually many men and a few women who believe that efforts such as promoting women into leadership positions, establishing goals, and supporting talented women are unnecessary and unjust. Concerns or objections are inevitably raised by these individuals regarding these initiatives, which may sound something like this:
“Are you not concerned about individuals being promoted based on their identity rather than their abilities? Is that not discrimination? Isn't it unjust?”
The most discouraging thing is that we do not wish to intimidate or estrange the men. Although the author is unknown, the concept is significant: privilege frequently appears to the privileged as equality and genuine equality can cause everyone to feel uneasy and unsteady.
The discomfort underlying all of these comments stems from the belief that the workplace operates as a zero-sum game. Men aren't advancing if women are. While some women are advancing, others are not. Everyone suffers when women are not included. Studies conducted over several decades have consistently demonstrated that companies with greater representation of women in top positions tend to perform better financially than those without. It's not discrimination, it's just basic math. A common reason for these objections is a misunderstanding of how privilege can distort the perception of “equality”.
At some point, strangers on the internet began sharing the following quote:
“When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression."
Privileged individuals may mistake their privilege for equality, while true equality can make everyone feel uneasy and off-balance.
EQUITY, JUSTICE<< BOURGEOIS
The statement that equality can feel like oppression when you are accustomed to privilege can be examined through various perspectives in the context of reservation policy in India. This policy aims to address historical social and educational disadvantages faced by marginalized communities, especially Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Reservation policies are a form of affirmative action aimed at helping communities overcome social and economic barriers. For individuals who have historically benefited from privilege, such as those belonging to higher castes or more advantaged backgrounds, the implementation of these policies may initially feel like a loss or a threat to their privileges. A sense of having to compete on an equal footing with individuals who previously had limited access to resources and opportunities.
“Nowadays politicians are playing a major role in reservation policy. The reservation policy was only for 10 years after the independence, for the upliftment of SC and ST but till now it has continued and no one has taken any steps to amend it revise it, or change it. The reason behind this is the population of SC and ST in the country. Nearly 33% of voting is done by SC and ST so now if they make any change in the reservation policy against the SC and ST then they have to suffer a lot for the same. So they are not taking any steps against the reservation policy”
Ironclad or Ironic?
Reservation may be viewed as reverse discrimination or an infringement on the rights of those accustomed to privilege. It is possible that they feel that their hard work and personal achievements are being devalued due to the allocation of reserved seats or quotas in educational institutions. It should be noted that the intention behind reservation in India is not to oppress or disadvantage any specific group but to provide an advantage to the already oppressed group to nullify their inherent disadvantage. Its goal is not to create new divides but to correct past wrongs and encourage social integration. To ensure representation and opportunities for underprivileged communities who have faced systemic discrimination and limited access to education and employment, reservation policies aim to create a level playing field. Acknowledging the challenges and criticisms, it is still important to recognize the implementation of reservation policies.
Such policies if made carelessly can potentially lead to resentment or animosity among different groups, some argue that it perpetuate a system based on caste and community considerations. A balanced approach is needed to address historical disadvantages and ensure opportunities for all deserving individuals while also addressing concerns about the dilution of meritocracy. In the context of reservation in India, it can be said that when one is accustomed to privilege, equality may feel like oppression. Some individuals may experience initial discomfort or resistance when faced with measures aimed at creating a more equitable society, as highlighted. It is important to acknowledge that reservation policies aim to promote social inclusion, rather than oppress or disadvantage any particular group.
Flip a coin and see the other side
But that is the popular view that is well known, the struggle for equality through reservation is not a concept alien to the masses but the trajectory of ideas with such gravity seldom moves linearly as such is the case with equality and reservation as well. It is clear that inherently privileged people are against reservation for obvious reasons. But what about people who are availing of reservations? The origin of reservation was to protect certain communities because they were unable to stand on equal footing because of their weaker backgrounds but if we look today, fortunately, there are parts of these communities who have now conquered their historical handicap and they now stand along with the elites, hence their future generations will be part of the “privileged” but their reservation rights will not be revoked automatically and pragmatically no one wants to give up their extra edge. Thus when these neo-privileged groups are questioned about these unreasonable advantages they often seek refuge in their history and claim to be oppressed still.
Karl Marx would have added privileges in his famous quote “Religion is the opium of the masses” had he been alive today, though knowing Marx he is definitely scribbling in his grave.
So it is pertinent to ponder upon the question of reservation and its purpose to provide equality through all angles, one must understand the paradox often created when heavy words like privilege, equality, and oppression are used. Because almost never things are black and white.
CONCLUSION
“… The definition and critical analysis of oppression has left out the complexity, voices and lived experiences of individuals who have been severely impacted by injustice and oppression…”
– Bell Hooks (1994)
It is crucial to have a deep understanding of the dynamics that challenge communities, particularly where members are people of color, ethnicity, gender, differently abled, etc. This understanding must extend to grappling with some of the more unjust practices such as oppression and power that have influenced and shaped many of our communities today.
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