Spring Break
Symposium kicks off with lecture on identity politics, oppression
Shaun Boutwell
Issue date: 3/31/05 Section: News
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Jenkins presented a diagram she referred to as "The Tools of Oppression," made up of three concentric circles.
The outside circle included single-issue terms such as "sexism," "classism" and "racism" that tend to cause society to place individuals in stereotypical categories.
The inner circle contained the tools of oppression: violence, marginalization, economic exploitation and tokenism were just a few of the instruments used to oppress others. In the center of the diagram were the terms "power" and "control."
"It's difficult to oppress if you don't have the power," Jenkins said.
"Each of us is an oppressor and each of us are oppressed," she said. "That is the nature of society."
Jenkins said in order to find their true selves, people must "stop oppressing" and "start empowering each other."
Jenkins also talked about the circle of socialization and how society influences the individual into thinking a certain way, often leading to negative stereotypes about those who are not a part of the "norm." This process repeats itself in an endless cycle unless the individual does something about it, she said.
"The stop comes when we stop looking at 'otherness' and start looking at ourselves," Jenkins said.
People have to realize it is having differences that make them the same, she said.
"In the GLBT community, one size does not fit all," Jenkins said. "We are all different. And different is good."
The outside circle included single-issue terms such as "sexism," "classism" and "racism" that tend to cause society to place individuals in stereotypical categories.
The inner circle contained the tools of oppression: violence, marginalization, economic exploitation and tokenism were just a few of the instruments used to oppress others. In the center of the diagram were the terms "power" and "control."
"It's difficult to oppress if you don't have the power," Jenkins said.
"Each of us is an oppressor and each of us are oppressed," she said. "That is the nature of society."
Jenkins said in order to find their true selves, people must "stop oppressing" and "start empowering each other."
Jenkins also talked about the circle of socialization and how society influences the individual into thinking a certain way, often leading to negative stereotypes about those who are not a part of the "norm." This process repeats itself in an endless cycle unless the individual does something about it, she said.
"The stop comes when we stop looking at 'otherness' and start looking at ourselves," Jenkins said.
People have to realize it is having differences that make them the same, she said.
"In the GLBT community, one size does not fit all," Jenkins said. "We are all different. And different is good."
