PSYCH2211 - 01 - Race, Gender & Sexuality

(SS) Social Science (SA) Social Analysis (DM) Diversity & Multiculturalism

Cultures set norms for how we are supposed to present ourselves which in turn affect how we are defined, perceived, and treated by others. Privilege refers to advantages prescribed to people based upon their perceived group membership; frequently, group differences are transformed into inequalities. Whether we experience privilege or oppression can depend on which aspects of our identities are salient in a given context. We will discuss the causes and social manifestations of privilege/oppression locally and globally from an intersectional perspective, examining power and oppression across multiple dimensions of identity (race, gender identity, sexuality), so that we can understand how identities overlap and create multiple levels of oppression for some groups of people.