“While your there you can make a difference.” (William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk) Translation: It is our responsibility no matter where we are to be a force for positive change.

What Kind of Oppression Are We Talking About?

“Ableism, sometimes referred to as 'disableism’ is the systematic oppression of a group of people with disabilities. This form of oppression is manifest in the combination of persona) prejudices, cultural expressions and values, and social forces that marginalize people with disabilities and portray them in a negative light, thus oppressing them.” (Mullaly, 2010 P. 215)

An Example of Ableism

My apartment at the U of L

Mobility problems

Attempted solutions

“The weak man knows the value of strength, knows the value of power.” (Stanley Tucci as Abraham Erskine) Translation: True power is when we understand and except every part of ourselves

The Anti-Oppressive Framework

Anti-Oppressive Practice: From a Personal Level

Focus: Education and Empowerment

Theories: Ability and Structural Social Work

Why I Chose This Framework

A lack of communication and understanding between the groups involved.

Able-Bodied = Dominant Culture

Disabled = Subculture A tendency to want to over come personal barriers

before attempting larger group barriers. Fragmentation among the different oppressed

“disabled” groups in society. Eg. Wheelchair bound, blind, hearing impaired, mentally disabled may view all of their oppressions as different.

The Anti-Oppressive Practice In Action

Thmost effective using support group for disabled people.

This would allow for individuals to gain a new perspective and understanding of themselves and as a part of a larger oppressed group in society.

Participating in this group would give the participants a sense of empowerment that could encourage them to move towards political action.

Example of The Anti-Oppressive Framework In Action

Topics Covered In The Group

Understanding Oppression Dominant Language

And Values Social Policy Personal Actions and

Stereotypes Understanding Different

Oppressions Becoming a Worker in

Your Own Liberation

KNOWLEDGE BUILDING TOOLS

Understanding Oppression (Labels And Values) SAMPLE QUESTIONS

“Language is power, life and the instrument of culture, the instrument of domination and liberation” Angela Carter

What are some labels that have been applied to “disabled” people? What are the values being represented in the labels? How have the labels and values affected how ”we” understand

ourselves?

Understanding Oppression (Labels And Values) SAMPLE QUESTIONS

How can the labels and values be linked to structural oppression?

Why do you think these labels and values have been applied to “disabled people”?

Is there be a better term to define the group?START THE WEB CHART AND FOCUS ON

STRUCTURAL OPRESSION

Understanding Oppression (Social Policy) SAMPLE QUESTIONS

“Social policy is about making decisions that are-in the perception of those making them-in the best interests of Canada and

Canadians.” (Graham J. R., Swift K. J. & Delaney R. 2007 P.

3)

What are some social policies that focus on “disabled” people?

What are some positive and negative outcomes of these social policies?

Why do you think these social policies were created and worded the way they were?

Understanding Oppression (Social Policy) SAMPLE QUESTIONS

How do language and values affect social policy? How can the effects of social policies be linked into

structural oppression? What are some actions that “we” can take as

“disabled” people and as Canadian citizens to impact or change the role of social policy in our lives?

APPLY WHAT WE’VE LEARNED TO THE WEB CHART

Understanding Oppression (Personal Actions and Stereotypes) SAMPLE

QUESTIONS

What are some stereotypes about “disabled” people?

How do values, language and social policies impact stereotypes and vice versa?

How have they impacted your life positively and negatively?

How do stereotypes affect how “disabled” people think about themselves and others?

Understanding Oppression (Personal Actions and Stereotypes) SAMPLE

QUESTIONS

How do stereotypes affect how “disabled” people think about themselves?

How do stereotypes affect how “disabled” people interact with each other?

What are some expectations on the part of disabled people that reinforce stereotypes?

How can personal actions and stereotypes be linked into structural oppression?

What are some actions that could either reinforce or deny stereotypes made about” disabled” people?

APPLY WHAT WE’VE LEARNED TO THE WEB CHART

Understanding Different Oppressions SAMPLE QUESTIONS

What other qualities or characteristics give a person power and freedom within society?

How do those qualities or characteristics impact your life as a person and as a “disabled” person?

How do these qualities or characteristics impact how you treat or understand others?

How is your type of “disability” like one of these qualities or characteristics? DO THE FLOWER OF POWER ACTIVITY

Understanding Different Oppressions SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Compare your “FLOWER OF POWER” to another person’s in the room. How are their experiences and challenges similar?

Could the way we understand barriers such as structural oppression be understood and addressed in a similar way to understand different oppressions?COMPARE WEB CHART AND FLOWER OF POWER

REVISIT OPPRESSOR PERSPECTIVE ANSWERS FROM OTHER SLIDES AND DECIUS

Becoming a Worker in Your Own Liberation SAMPLE QUESTIONS

What can be from the inside in order to break the web of oppression that we’ve been building?

What can be done individually?

What can be done as a group?

How can we get others involved?

Resources

Bishop A. (2002). Becoming an Ally Breaking the Cycle of Oppression in People. Black Point: Fernwood Publishing

Mallaly B. (2010). Challenging Oppression and Confronting Privilege A Critical Social Work Approach. Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press

Graham J. R., Swift K. J. & Delaney R. (2007). Canadian Social Policy: An Introduction (2nd ed.).