A diagram to describe systemic oppression.

Our social organization is divided systemically, and these divisions intersect, based on social condition, skin color, region of the world, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical condition, physical appearance, neurological condition, age, language proficiency…

On one side of the social divide, the beneficiaries of the system of privileges or preference, either conscious or even active, or unconscious; on the other side, the oppressed, the concerned, who suffer.

Systemic oppression forms an ideological regime that seeks to render acceptable the social norm that generates these divisions, while at the same time seeking to make them invisible.

Nothing is set in stone; domination and struggle are two processes that must confront each other. Being privileged and wanting to “help” (even that word is a trap) can be counter-intuitive, and requires a commitment that goes beyond mere posturing. It means taking on the role of an ally whose actions will be directed first and foremost towards other privileged people.

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The PDF diagram can be downloaded here (current version: 8).