Structural Oppression

Structural oppression refers to the ways societal systems and institutions—like education, healthcare, employment, and criminal justice—are organized in ways that systematically disadvantage certain groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, class, or ethnicity. These ingrained inequalities are embedded in policies, practices, and cultural norms, leading to unequal access to opportunities and resources. Unlike individual bias, structural oppression is about the broader framework that perpetuates disparities, often unconscious and difficult to change without intentional effort. Recognizing this helps us understand why some groups face persistent barriers despite individual intentions to be fair.