Final answer:
The term that describes internal conflict within subordinated groups in an oppressive society is 'double consciousness,' as defined by W.E.B. Du Bois. It encapsulates the feeling of viewing oneself through the eyes of a dominant culture while trying to maintain one's cultural identity, and the systemic racism that precipitates this internal struggle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe the internal conflict experienced by subordinated groups in an oppressive society is double consciousness. This term was coined by W.E.B. Du Bois in his work The Souls of Black Folk, where he examines the struggle of African Americans to maintain a sense of self while being viewed through the prejudiced lens of the dominant white society. The double consciousness is a sense of always looking at oneself through the eyes of others and an awareness of the 'twoness'—being both an American and African American, each with its own cultural expectations and experiences.
Examples of double consciousness can be seen when individuals feel they have to navigate and balance different cultural identities or languages, which may either clash with or support their identity and culture. The impact of language and rhetoric on shaping and defining identity plays a critical role in these experiences. This manifests in situations where people of color may internalize negative stereotypes, influencing their own self-concept as well as their perception in society at large.
W.E.B. Du Bois’s theory emphasizes that systemic racism and everyday discrimination are deeply entrenched in society, leading to a persistent struggle for self-identification among oppressed groups. In dealing with these conflicts, individuals may experience both internal conflict and a sense of subjugation, especially when their rights and identity are challenged or dismissed by dominant societal narratives or legal frameworks.