Which category of oppression focuses on broader societal systems rather than individual acts?

Which category of oppression focuses on broader societal systems rather than individual acts?

• A. Individualized oppression
• B. Cultural oppression
• C. Systemic/institutional oppression
• D. External oppression

Answer: (C)

Think of oppression as something that can be built into the way society is organized, not just something a single person does. When the focus is on broader societal systems—laws, policies, and the practices of institutions that consistently disadvantage a group—that’s systemic/institutional oppression. It shows up in how schools are funded, who has access to quality healthcare, who is more likely to be stopped or punished by the criminal justice system, or how hiring and promotion decisions are made. Even if individuals aren’t personally biased, the structure itself creates unequal outcomes because resources, opportunities, and power are distributed in ways that advantage some groups over others. This is different from individualized oppression, which centers on one-off acts of prejudice by individuals, or cultural oppression, which concerns the beliefs, norms, and messages circulating in a culture. So the broader, system-level design of society is what drives systemic/institutional oppression.

Think of oppression as something that can be built into the way society is organized, not just something a single person does. When the focus is on broader societal systems—laws, policies, and the practices of institutions that consistently disadvantage a group—that’s systemic/institutional oppression. It shows up in how schools are funded, who has access to quality healthcare, who is more likely to be stopped or punished by the criminal justice system, or how hiring and promotion decisions are made. Even if individuals aren’t personally biased, the structure itself creates unequal outcomes because resources, opportunities, and power are distributed in ways that advantage some groups over others. This is different from individualized oppression, which centers on one-off acts of prejudice by individuals, or cultural oppression, which concerns the beliefs, norms, and messages circulating in a culture. So the broader, system-level design of society is what drives systemic/institutional oppression.