Iris Young tackles the injustices of oppression by highlighting the ways it comes about. In the Five Faces of Oppression, Young expresses that oppression and dominance are both a structural and a social concept. She further expresses that oppression isn’t necessarily rooted in tyranny (currently) but that is integrated into the everyday practices of even well-meaning societies (39). In these well-meaning societies, we have the five different faces (or peoples) who represent the social and structural creation of oppression.
“Exploitation” is the first face Young brings in. She explains that Marx theory explains this piece well in relation to the superior or inferior class you belong to. Society has rules and expectations that correlate to your …show more content…
Young explains: “Marginals are people the system of labor cannot or will not use.”(52) She explains that these marginals are more than just based on race, that involves the elderly, single parents, African-Americans, mentally ill, physically disabled, and American Indians. These peoples cannot obtain jobs are not considered the ideal worker, when in fact these peoples may need the most help.
“Powerlessness” references back to the Marxist idea of “exploitation”. These referenced peoples when hired, are placed in the lowest rung of the capitalist ladder. By being placed on the bottom they do not get the chance to influence policy or vote democratically within their company. She further explains that these people: “must take orders and rarely have the right to give them.”
While our first three faces refer to labor and capital “Cultural Imperialism” universalizes the dominant group as the common and ideal people. By having white, middle class, straight men as the hegemonic ideal it creates a measuring stick that those who aren’t in the dominant group are compared against. While these men in the dominant group get to experience individuality, those who aren’t being linked to their stereotype. Young says that it is the “paradox of experiencing oneself as invisible at the same time that one is marked as different
“Exploitation” is the first face Young brings in. She explains that Marx theory explains this piece well in relation to the superior or inferior class you belong to. Society has rules and expectations that correlate to your …show more content…
Young explains: “Marginals are people the system of labor cannot or will not use.”(52) She explains that these marginals are more than just based on race, that involves the elderly, single parents, African-Americans, mentally ill, physically disabled, and American Indians. These peoples cannot obtain jobs are not considered the ideal worker, when in fact these peoples may need the most help.
“Powerlessness” references back to the Marxist idea of “exploitation”. These referenced peoples when hired, are placed in the lowest rung of the capitalist ladder. By being placed on the bottom they do not get the chance to influence policy or vote democratically within their company. She further explains that these people: “must take orders and rarely have the right to give them.”
While our first three faces refer to labor and capital “Cultural Imperialism” universalizes the dominant group as the common and ideal people. By having white, middle class, straight men as the hegemonic ideal it creates a measuring stick that those who aren’t in the dominant group are compared against. While these men in the dominant group get to experience individuality, those who aren’t being linked to their stereotype. Young says that it is the “paradox of experiencing oneself as invisible at the same time that one is marked as different