Systemic Oppression

Systemic oppression refers to how societal structures, laws, policies, and institutions naturally create and maintain advantages for some groups while disadvantaging others. It’s embedded in the way systems like education, housing, employment, and justice operate, often unintentionally or unintentionally favoring certain identities based on race, gender, class, or other characteristics. This leads to persistent inequalities that are difficult for individuals to overcome alone, as the disadvantage is built into the norms and practices of society itself. Understanding systemic oppression helps us see how broad social factors contribute to ongoing disparities.