Systems of Privilege and Oppression: Religion, Ableism, Ageism, and Immigration

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key definitions, legal frameworks, and structural dynamics of religious privilege, ableism, ageism, and immigration policy.

Individual Level (Religious Oppression)

Personal biases, stereotypes, prejudice, and microaggressions, such as assuming everyone celebrates Christmas or Easter, asking questions framed by Christian norms, or stating, "You don't look Muslim."

Institutional Level (Religious Oppression)

Structural laws, policies, or organizational practices that legally or systematically disadvantage non-Christians, such as Christian holidays being the only federally recognized national holidays, blue laws, standard work week structures, and zoning laws used to block mosques or temples.

Cultural Level (Religious Oppression)

The normalization and domination of Christian symbols, language, and values embedded into everyday American public life, such as national phrases like "In God We Trust" and the stigmatization of non-Christian religious attire.

Religious Practices Becoming "Secular"

Cultural practices rooted in religion that have transitioned into mainstream, non-religious culture, such as Christmas and St. Patrick's Day.

Cultural Practices "Masked" as Religious

Moral behavioral policing or cultural rules framed as divine threats, such as stating "If you lie, you'll go to hell."

Social Construction of Religious Culture

How communities actively build the visible culture of religion through festivals, holidays, stories, architecture, diet, and clothing.

Religion

The communal attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs directed toward an ultimate controlling power.

Spirituality

A deeply personal, internal experience of seeking meaning or connection to a higher power, nature, or the inner self.

Secularism

The state of being entirely separate from religion or spirituality, driven heavily by the historical rise of scientific thought.

Ableism

A system of oppression that privileges non-disabled people and marginalizes disabled people.

Medical Model Framework

A healthcare-oriented perspective that reinforces the idea that disability is an inherent flaw or medical deficit that needs to be corrected or cured.

Social/Environmental Framework

A framework establishing that disability is not inherently negative but is shaped entirely by the environment and resources available, meaning an impairment only becomes a substantial limitation when the surrounding environment is inaccessible.

Person-First Language

Linguistic phrasing like "person with a disability" designed to avoid defining an individual entirely by their condition, though critics argue it may unintentionally downplay the disability.

Identity-First Language

Linguistic phrasing like "disabled person" utilized to affirm disability as a proud core identity rather than a flaw, though critics argue it may increase societal stigma.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

An autoimmune condition of unknown cause with onset typically in one's $20\text{s}$ and $30\text{s}$ that destroys myelin on axons, resulting in tremors and movement issues.

Parkinson's Disease

A progressive motor system disorder caused by a lack of dopamine, typically with an onset at age $50+$, characterized by tremors, rigidity, balance issues, and dementia.

Cerebral Palsy

A neurological condition with onset from prenatal development up to $3$ years of age, causing stiff or floppy muscles, swallowing trouble, and drooling.

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

A brain-based condition where the brain misinterprets sounds despite the individual having normal hearing.

Developmental Disability

Impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas affecting $1$ in $6$ children, including conditions like Down syndrome, autism, and spina bifida.

Ageism

Systematic mistreatment, stereotyping, and discrimination targeted at older adults, accompanied by a loss of respect, power, and participation rights.

Adultism

Systematic oppression targeted at children, adolescents, and emerging adults driven by the belief that adults are naturally superior and entitled to total authority.

Biological Age

A person's position in time relative to the literal, physical aging process of the body across the lifespan from birth to death.

Functional Age

A person's actual ability to function, perform daily tasks, and navigate their environment effectively compared to others of the same chronological age.

"The Barrel Shape" Demographic Shift

The demographic transformation from a historical pyramid (broad base of young people supporting a small elderly population) into a barrel shape, caused by older adults living longer and fewer children being born.

Dr. Jim S.

A Black physician raised in segregated Virginia who overcame addiction, experienced a mid-life spiritual awakening, and founded the first Black Alcoholics Anonymous group in Washington, D.C.

Immigrant (Lawful Permanent Resident)

A foreign-born person granted permanent residency in the U.S. (green card holder) who cannot vote in federal elections and does not receive a U.S. passport.

Naturalized Citizen

An immigrant who has completed the legal process to obtain full U.S. citizenship, gaining voting rights, a passport, and protection from deportation.

Non-immigrant

An individual permitted to enter the U.S. temporarily for a specific purpose and timeframe, such as students, tourists, temporary workers, or patients seeking medical treatment.

Undocumented Individual

A person who entered the U.S. without legal documentation or entered legally with permission (such as a visa) but stayed past their terms of entry.

Refugee / Asylee

A person seeking safety who has experienced persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion, who must apply for a green card within $1$ year of arrival.

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

A policy that provides a $2$-year work permit and temporary protection from deportation, but does not provide a pathway to citizenship.

Immigration Act of 1917

Legislation that introduced mandatory literacy tests requiring newcomers aged $16+$ to demonstrate basic reading comprehension in any language.

Emergency Quota Act (1921)

The law that established the very first numerical limits and national origins quota system in U.S. history.

Johnson-Reed Act (1924)

Legislation that capped annual visas at $2\%$ of each nationality already residing in the U.S., heavily favoring Western and Northern Europe while excluding other groups.

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

Legislation that abolished the national origins quota system and replaced it with preferences for family unification and skilled labor, triggering major immigration from Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Assimilation

The process of shedding one's original home cultural values and traditions to completely adopt the majority culture.

Acculturation

The process of maintaining original home cultural traditions while simultaneously adapting to and adopting customs of the new culture.

Multiculturalism

A view or policy that recognizes, values, and preserves distinct cultural and ethnic groups within a single society.

Xenophobia

The irrational fear, dislike, or hatred of people perceived as foreigners or outsiders.

Automatic Child Citizenship Rule

A legal rule stating that a child born on or after February 27, 1983, automatically becomes a U.S. citizen if one parent naturalizes while the child is under $18$, holds a green card, and resides in that parent's legal and physical custody.