Question

Oppression is disadvantage that people don't deserve. It's a form of injustice that occurs when one social group is put down while another is privileged. Oppression is maintained by a variety of different mechanisms including social norms, stereotypes, isms and phobias, and institutional rules. Privilege is advantages that were not specifically earned.

a.) some employers treat Sena's family members as dishonest because of their skin color and are unwilling to hire them.
b.) Billy doesn't have to apply to become a member of a prestigious country club because his family has belonged to it for several generations.
c.) Georgie shows up early and always works hard, so they get a bonus.
d.) Jenna's boss thinks she is untrustworthy because Jenna is late a lot and does not promote her.

Answer 1

The student’s question involves understanding oppression, which is an unjust application of power, alongside institutional discrimination and privilege, which are unearned benefits granted to members of a dominant group, such as by skin color for white privilege. Examples include workplace discrimination based on skin color and inherited membership in exclusive clubs. Distinct from these concepts, individual performance leading to rewards or lack thereof is not necessarily linked to systemic inequity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question pertains to the concepts of oppression, institutional discrimination, and privilege. Oppression is the unjust exercise of authority or power that disproportionately harms specific social groups, often maintained by social norms, stereotypes, various forms of 'isms' (like racism or sexism), phobias, and systemic institutional rules. An example of oppression can be seen when employers discriminate against an individual, such as Sena's family members, based on the color of their skin, refusing to hire them despite merit.

Privilege refers to unearned advantages that individuals receive by virtue of their membership in a dominant group. For instance, white privilege is the set of benefits received by white people, as they are the dominant group in many societies. This benefit can manifest in various ways, such as Billy not having to apply for a membership at a country club because of his family's long-standing affiliation.

In contrast, not all positive outcomes are a result of privilege. For example, Georgie receiving a bonus due to hard work and punctuality, or Jenna not being promoted because of consistent tardiness and perceived untrustworthiness, reflect individual performance rather than systemic inequity based on group characteristics.