The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Whether it's microaggressions, bias, or discrimination, dealing with prejudice is physically and psychologically demanding. But avoiding it is not always an option.

Jumai, a close friend of mine, recently told me a story of what she went through in her past marriage, which was an arranged marriage. She was respectful of her in-laws, tried her best to be a good wife to her husband, and a role model to her two children. Yet, from the beginning, she felt something was not right. Her husband seeing other women was the acceptable norm; the coming and going out of the house. The family culture demands that his wife and the mother of his children bear everyone else's wrath and not complain. The family culture also demands that remain silent, uphold the family status, and save face. Her husband lacked compassion, and the culture permits his abuse. She was daily subjected to mental and physical abuse that made her feel worthless and full of self-pity. She ultimately summoned the courage to run away from her abusive husband, getting help from a friend living in the United States.

Blaming women for everything wrong in a home is a common occurrence worldwide, with minor occurrences in the west. In Africa, for example, women are taught from an early age to endure abuse. Although it is believed that women will hold the family unit together, this comes with the added expectation that they cannot speak up and suffer in silence.

Jumai's husband sees himself as superior, and women should be handled as objects and dealt with in this manner. Jumai exemplifies the physical and mental abuse women are facing around the world. Jumai stressed the need for parents to teach the boys from an early age that men and women are equal. 

Juami is now a women's advocate, speaking about her journey and inspiring many with her story. She is a senior advocate at a reputable company here in the United States. In addition, she often travels to her country to inspire women who have been subject to brutal trauma to get back up. She has also inspired a new tech startup working to provide safe and secure communication for domestic abuse victims.

Although we all have biases, many biases tend to be exhibited toward minority groups based on such factors as class, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, religious beliefs, age, disability, etc.

Jumai incident brought to mind the experience I had with a bully in my class in my early years. Every day, I dreaded going to school until I stood my ground and fought back. Unfortunately, in many cultures, men generally believe they are especially privileged. But, as Jumai advocated,  awareness from an early age can equip future generations to be more tolerant, expressive, and open.

Oppression is not just in gender issues as experienced by Jumai. Oppressive systems operate in tandem with the greater society that permits inequities to continue. These systems or structures enable the continuation of policies and practices that put marginalized groups at a disadvantage. However, each of us has the power to create changes that can echo beyond our spheres of influence. Prejudice and racism are learned behaviors; therefore, they can be unlearned. So, one of the best ways to reshape oppressive systems is by providing those in marginalized communities with tangible support. 

                                                                    Reference

Asare, J., G. (2020) . 4 Ways To Deconstruct Systems Of Oppression

https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2020/02/17/4-ways-to-deconstruct-systems-of-oppression/?sh=6f60871262da