Orientation to Human Services April 07 2026

Overview of Oppression and Anti-Oppression Practice

  • Discussion introduction on professional development and self-care.

  • The importance of discussing oppression within the program.

  • Acknowledgment of personal experiences related to oppression.

  • Framework for understanding and addressing oppression in social work.

Defining Oppression

  • What is oppression?

    • The use of power to keep individuals or groups down, enforced by those who have power.

    • Verbatim Definition: "Oppression is the unfair treatment of a group of people for an extended period of time."

    • Oppression can be personal and societal, affecting individuals and communities at large.

  • Characteristics of Oppression:

    • Fairness is compromised through control and lack of power.

    • It was noted that even social workers can perpetuate oppression due to their positions of implied power over vulnerable individuals.

Examples of Oppression

  • Key Areas of Institutionalized Power:

    • Institutions such as education systems, healthcare, and judicial systems have historically perpetuated oppression.

Historical Examples:

  1. Genocide in Rwanda (1994):

    • A brutal instance where approximately one million Tutsis were murdered by the Hutus, illustrating how systemic power can lead to widespread violence.

    • Impact: Created ongoing trauma and issues such as children born with AIDS due to violence.

  2. Uighurs in China:

    • A Muslim minority facing repression from the Chinese government, including forced relocations to “re-education” camps.

  3. Indigenous Communities in Canada:

    • Manifestation of oppression with poor water quality and health issues for many Indigenous groups due to systemic neglect.

    • Issues included boiling water alerts in communities, demonstrating the ongoing legacy of historical injustices.

Case Study: Queen's University Medical School Restriction

  • Historical Context: In 1918, Queen's University restricted black student applications to its medical school, representing systematic oppression in educational settings.

  • Current Reforms: University of Toronto has initiated programs to enhance representation of Black students in medicine.

Personal Experiences with Oppression

Case of Joyce Esquan

  • An Indigenous woman in Quebec who faced taunting and discrimination from healthcare staff prior to her death, highlighting failures within the healthcare system and the intersection of oppression and healthcare.

Recognizing and Addressing Oppression

  • Importance of Speaking Up:

    • Students are encouraged to witness and speak out against oppressive practices, although they may face personal costs for doing so.

  • Interactive Component: Discussion on personal experiences of witnessing oppression and the complexities involved in speaking up.

Active Listening and Counseling Techniques

Skills for Counselors:

  • Paraphrasing

  • Empathizing

  • Reflective listening

  • Summarizing client feelings and experiences

  • Critical Questions for Understanding Oppression:

    • Questions to ask clients about their experiences with oppression to promote self-reflection and uncover systemic issues they have faced.

The Role of Social Workers

  • Acknowledgment that social workers often navigate and operate within the systems that can be oppressive themselves.

  • Awareness of one’s own social location (e.g., race, gender, religion) and the impact it has on one’s perspective and practice in social work.

Statistics on Indigenous Children in Care

  • Indigenous children make up 30% of foster care despite representing only 4% of the child population in Ontario, illustrating systemic biases that disproportionately affect marginalized groups.

Closing Thoughts

  • The importance of self-reflection, engagement with diverse perspectives, and accountability towards addressing oppressive practices in one’s professional context.

  • Emphasizing the interconnectedness of communities and advocating for collective justice and support.