Definition: The word "oppression" is a term used in social science to describe or refer to any action, situation, system, or policy that has an effect on individuals, groups, or organizations which results in disadvantages for them. In a broad sense, oppression can be defined as discrimination, inequality, mistreatment, and harm. It refers to the unequal treatment of people based on their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, status (such as poverty, social class), age, or other characteristics. The term may also include actions such as physical violence, mental ill-treatment, economic exploitation, and psychological abuse. In terms of its definition, oppression can be divided into two main types: structural and institutional. Structural oppression refers to the systemic barriers that prevent individuals from accessing resources, opportunities, or rights based on their identity, race, gender, religion, status, or other characteristics. This type of oppression may include discrimination in employment, education, housing, healthcare, voting, access to information, and public services. In contrast, institutional oppression refers to actions or policies that disproportionately harm certain groups by perpetuating barriers to equality. Examples include laws that discriminate against people based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristics; discriminatory practices such as racial profiling or affirmative action policies; and policies that have a negative impact on the overall well-being of marginalized communities. In summary, oppression refers to any form of discrimination, inequality, or mistreatment of individuals based on their identity, status, or other characteristics. Its definition can be divided into structural and institutional elements, with structural oppression focusing on systemic barriers and institutional oppression involving actions that disproportionately harm certain groups. Therefore, the word 'oppression' is a term used in social science to describe any action or system that has an effect on individuals, groups, or organizations which results in disadvantages for them.

oppression