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Three Important Takeaways on Systemic Oppression and Privilege
Module 3: Ways to Teach Systemic Oppression and Privilege*
From Ways to Incorporate DEI into Your Courses By David Luke, Chief Diversity Officer, University of Michigan, Flint
Three Important Takeaways
Addressing systemic racism will take more fundamental, foundational change than many realize, since systemic racism is baked into all our major institutions in society, as are systemic sexism and so many other forms of oppression. These are often the result of who these institutions were created by and for, and whether they were intentionally created to marginalize some and privilege others. Forms of oppression are maintained through their status quo operation. Thus, transformational change is the way to address systemic oppression.
Privilege, much like oppression, is not something that the individual is responsible for and is not a reflection of one’s morals. Instead, it is a reflection of living with all of one’s identities in a society that privileges some and marginalizes others by virtue of their group membership.
All people have multiple intersecting identities, and those identities impact our experiences, as well as that of others who hold different identities, in different ways. Part of the work of DEI is perspective-taking and critical empathy, attempting to understand the experiences of those whose identities differ from yours, and, in instances where you hold privilege, working to change the system so everybody shares your positive experiences.
*Published 07/22. © 2022 Sage Publishing. All rights reserved. All other brand and product names are the property of their respective owners.