Oppression

The Culture of Oppression one person at a time...
The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.
Martin Luther King, Jr,
oppression
is when a person or group in a position of power controls the less powerful in cruel and unfair ways.
Oppression
Power concedes nothing without a demand. I never did and it never will. Those words came from Frederick Douglass, a former slave who devoted his life to ending the oppression of black people at the hands of powerful white slave owners. The Latin root means pressed against, and oppression feels like hands pressing your head, keeping you down. Oppression can be widespread throughout a culture, or felt by a single individual, like enduring the suns oppression on a hot summer day.
In a social justice context, oppression is what happens when people are pushed down by societies. (The word comes from the Latin root opprimere, meaning "pressed down.") Here are some ways people tend to be pushed down. Note that in many cases, these categories overlap in such a way that one person has to deal with multiple forms of oppression.
Sexism: Sexism has been an almost universal condition of civilization, probably due to the fact that men tend to be larger and to have more upper body strength than women. This brings with it a greater average capacity for violence, violence is the language of despotism, and we are only slowly moving beyond despotism. Sexism tends to force women into subservient, restrictive roles that many women do not want, and to force men into dominant, competitive roles that many men do not want. Heterosexism: A subcategory of sexism, heterosexism describes the pattern in which people with clearly-defined genders are assumed to want to have sexual relationships exclusively with members of the opposite gender. Since not everybody does, the outliers can be punished with ridicule, restriction of partnership rights, discrimination, arrest, and even possibly death. Racism: Racism is a social pattern in which people who are identified as members of one specific "racial" group are treated differently from people who are members of another. Colorism: Colorism is a social pattern in which people are treated differently based on the amount of visible melanin in the skin. It is not the same thing as racism, but the two tend to go together. Ableism: Ableism is a social pattern in which people who are disabled are treated differently, to an unnecessary degree, than those who are not. Lookism: Lookism is a social pattern in which people whose faces and/or bodies fit social ideals are treated differently from people whose faces and/or bodies do not. Sizeism: Sizeism is a social pattern in which people whose bodies fit social ideals are treated differently from people whose bodies do not. Ageism: Ageism is a social pattern in which people of a certain chronological age are treated differently, to an unnecessary degree, than those who are not. Nativism: Nativism is a social pattern in which people who are born in a given country are treated differently from those who immigrate to it, to the benefit of natives.
Oppressive Violence: The Battle for
End Oppression
ONE HERO at a Time
No other offense has ever been visited with such severe penalties as seeking to help the oppressed.
Clarence Darrow
The story of Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai, teenager, political activist, writer, journalist, fighter for the education of girls right to education in Pakistan, she publicly spoke out against the Taliban regime and because of her boldness in action the Pakistani Taliban unanimously agreed to orchestrate her assignation, stating that they were forced to act because previous death threat to silence her would not work. These events t were to later unfold on the 9th of October 2012 when returning home from school on a, Taliban gunman stormed the bus shouting Which one of you is Malala? Speak up otherwise I will shoot you all! Malala was identified and she was shot in both the head and neck along with two other girls on the bus.
Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Mother Teresa
What types of oppression do we see in our schools?

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. - Anne Frank
Bullying: Staff & Student Domestic violence Prejudice Intolerance Power & Control over others Manipulation
*Nearly 1 in 4 women in the U.S. reports experiencing intimate partner violence at some point
in her life and 15 million children live in families in which intimate partner violence occurred within the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control
American Psychological Association recommends: To help stop bullying

Be knowledgeable and observant Teachers and administrators need to be aware that although bullying generally happens in areas such as the bathroom, playground, crowded hallways, and school buses as well as via cell phones and computers (where supervision is limited or absent), it must be taken seriously. Teachers and administrators should emphasize that telling is not tattling. If a teacher observes bullying in a classroom, he/she needs to immediately intervene to stop it, record the incident and inform the appropriate school administrators so the incident can be investigated. Having a joint meeting with the bullied student and the student who is bullying is not recommended it is embarrassing and very intimidating for the student that is being bullied. Involve students and parents Students and parents need to be a part of the solution and involved in safety teams and antibullying task forces. Students can inform adults about what is really going on and also teach adults about new technologies that kids are using to bully. Parents, teachers, and school administrators can help students engage in positive behavior and teach them skills so that they know how to intervene when bullying occurs. Older students can serve as mentors and inform younger students about safe practices on the Internet. Set positive expectations about behavior for students and adults Schools and classrooms must offer students a safe learning environment. Teachers and coaches need to explicitly remind students that bullying is not accepted in school and such behaviors will have consequences. Creating an anti-bullying document and having both the student and the parents/guardians sign and return it to the school office helps students understand the seriousness of bullying. Also, for students who have a hard time adjusting or finding friends, teachers and administrators can facilitate friendships or provide jobs for the student to do during lunch and recess so that children do not feel isolated or in danger of becoming targets for bullying.
Recognizing violence warning signs in others:

Often people who act violently have trouble controlling their feelings. They may have been hurt by others. Some think that making people fear them through violence or threats of violence will solve their problems or earn them respect . This isn't true. Some violence occurs as a response to prolonged hurt, trauma, bullying or victimization. People may use violence to get something, while others may act out of self-protection or desperation. People who behave violently lose respect. They eventually find themselves isolated or disliked, and they still feel angry and frustrated. Anger itself is not always a sign that violence is imminent. While anger may be a warning sign of violence, it must be put in context. In fact, by assuming that anger or increased substance abuse will always lead to violence means that many nonviolent people who are in need of help become unfairly characterized as violent. What is most important to look at is if there are new signs and significant changes in behavior. The presence of some of the signs or factors listed below should alert us to the possibility that an individual may be at risk of violence. It should be noted, however, that the presence of one or more signs or factors does not necessarily mean that the person will be violent.
1)A history of violent or aggressive behavior, 2)young age at first violent incident, 3)having been a victim of bullying, 4) history of discipline problems or frequent conflicts with authority, 5) early childhood abuse or neglect, 6)having witnessed violence at home, 7)family or parent condones use of violence, A history of cruelty to animals, Having a major mental illness, 8)being callous or lacking empathy for others, 9) History of vandalism or property damage Other signs of potential violence may be present over time and may escalate or contribute to the risk of violence given a certain event or activity. These might include:
1)Serious drug or alcohol use, 2) gang membership or strong desire to be in a gang, 3) access to or fascination with weapons, especially guns, 4) trouble controlling feelings like anger, 5) withdrawal from friends and usual activities, 6) 7)Regularly feeling rejected or alone, 8) Feeling constantly disrespected Some signs of potential violence may be new or active signs. They might look like:
1) Increased loss of temper, 2) Frequent physical fighting, 3) Increased use of alcohol or drugs, 4) Increased risk-taking behavior, 5) Declining school performance, 6) Acute episode of major mental illness, 7) Planning how to commit acts of violence, 8) Announcing threats or plans for hurting others, 9) Obtaining or carrying a weapon
There is research that indicates that new or active signs are more predictive of short-term risk of violence than historical factors, which may be more predictive of longer term risk.
Conceptual Blockades to Oppression

Safety Respect Equality Trust The buck stops here! End the cycle Bystanders stand-up Violence is a choice
End
Oppression: one hero at a time
To believe in something, and not live it, is dishonest.

Mahatma Gandhi
http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=7878016&height=400&width=300
How do all of us become Heroic?

According to researchers, empathy and compassion for others are key variables that contribute to heroic behavior. People who rush in to help others in the face of danger and adversity do so because they genuinely care about the safety and well-being of other people. A 2009 study found that people who have heroic tendencies also have a much higher degree of empathy. Researchers suggest that heroes aren't just compassionate and caring; they have a knack for being able to see things from the perspective of others. They can 'walk a mile in another man's shoes,' so to speak. According to heroism researchers Zimbardo and Franco, heroes have two essential qualities that set them apart from non-heroes: they live by their values and they are willing to endure personal risk to protect those values. A person who rushes into a burning building to save another person is not just extraordinarily brave; they also have an ability to overcome fear. Researchers suggest that heroic individuals are positive thinkers by nature, which contributes to their ability to look past the immediate danger of a situation and see a more optimistic outcome. In many cases, these individuals may also have a higher tolerance for risk. Plenty of caring and kind people might shrink back in the face of danger. Those who do leap into action are typically more likely to take greater risks in multiple aspects of their lives. Persistence is another quality commonly shared by heroes. In one 2010 study, researchers found that people identified as heroes were more likely to put a positive spin on negative events. When faced with a potentially life-threatening illness, people with heroic tendencies might focus on the good that might come from the situation such as a renewed appreciation for life or an increased closeness with loved ones.
Be a Hero
References
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/oppression http://civilliberty.about.com/od/equalrights/tp/Types-of-Oppression.htm http://www.thextraordinary.org/malala-yousafzai#.UWCyWJPrzxQ http://www.finestquotes.com/select_quote-category-Oppression-page0.htm http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3720.Anne_Frank http://www.apa.org/index.aspx http://psychology.about.com/od/the-psychology-of/a/characteristics-ofheroism.htm

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The Culture of Oppression one person at a time...

Oppressive Violence: The Battle for

The story of Malala Yousafzai

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Mother Teresa

What types of oppression do we see in our schools?

American Psychological Association recommends: To help stop bullying

Recognizing violence warning signs in others:

Conceptual Blockades to Oppression

Oppression: one hero at a time

To believe in something, and not live it, is dishonest.

How do all of us become Heroic?

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