Definition
Systemic oppression (SO) is about the permanent subordination, humiliation, and domination of certain social groups due to their socially constructed lower position in society on account of the socially constructed higher position of the oppressing groups. It often happens covertly, invisible, and without any bad intention, which indicates the ordinariness of steady oppression and points to the fact that it is systemically ingrained: If nobody is able to see oppression, how deeply are we concerned by it? Other forms of oppression are more overt and more intentional and can be linked to forms of violence and discrimination. SO is based on the (socially constructed) belief that some groups in society are less valuable than other groups because of their attachment to certain categories, like gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, and age.
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Liedauer, S. (2021). Dimensions and Causes of Systemic Oppression. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Lange Salvia, A., Özuyar, P.G., Wall, T. (eds) Reduced Inequalities. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71060-0_91-1
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