Differences, Diversity, Oppression, Power, and Privilege

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to oppression, diversity, and social identity, aiding in the understanding of these complex concepts.

Social Group

A group of people who share a range of physical, cultural, and/or social characteristics within one of the categories of social identity.

Master Status

A status that has a profound effect on one’s life; that dominates or overwhelms the other statuses one occupies.

Social Location

The point at which individual parts of our social group identities touch all others, expressing the core of a person’s existence in the social and political world.

Ontology

The study of what kinds of things exist and the object-subject relationship.

Epistemology

A branch of philosophy that studies knowledge, including what is true and what is false knowledge.

Essentialism

The perspective that reality/objects exist independently of our perceptions of them, implying essential differences among groups of people.

Constructionism

The perspective that reality/objects cannot be separated from the way culture/humans make sense of them; meaning is constructed through social processes.

Dichotomizing

The process of seeing things as mutually exclusive, creating divides such as black/white or poor/middle class.

Stigma

An attribute for which someone is considered bad, unworthy, or deeply discredited, often linked to visible features.

Discrimination

Behaviors based on prejudice or bias intended to deny individuals or groups equality of treatment.

Heterosexism

Discrimination based on sexual identity and orientation, especially against those who are not heterosexual.

Classism

Discrimination based on social or economic status, especially against those at lower socio-economic levels.

Ageism

Discrimination based on age, especially against older adults.

Racism

The belief that a particular race is superior to others.

Sexism

Discrimination based on sex, particularly against women.

Exploration of Difference

The study of how differences are constructed and categorized, affecting the lives of individuals.

Cultural Imperialism

The dominant group characterizes the normalcy of culture and experiences, leading to the judgment of subcultures.

Powerlessness

A negative connotation that associates certain populations with a socially constructed lack of authority and personal agency.

Violence

The use of physical violence, harassment, and intimidation to victimize members of a particular group.