Anti-Oppressive Practice

As a start, we use Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989), the ADDRESSING Model (Hays, 2001), Critical Theory, Feminist Theory, Postcolonial Theory, Queer Theory, Critical Race Theory, and Disability Scholarships to guide our understanding of anti-oppressive practice. 

The ADDRESSING model provides a comprehensive framework for understanding multiple dimensions of identity:

• Age and generational influences

• Developmental disabilities

• Disabilities acquired later in life

• Religion and spiritual orientation

• Ethnic and racial identity

• Socioeconomic status

• Sexual orientation

• Indigenous heritage

• National origin

• Gender

Key tenets are as follows:

• Recognition of Systemic Oppression: Acknowledge that oppression operates at systemic levels, not just individual interactions. 

• Intersectionality of Identities: Understand that individuals possess multiple, intersecting identities that influence their experiences of privilege and oppression.

• Non-Additive Nature of Oppression: Recognize that the experience of multiple marginalized identities is not simply additive but creates unique, emergent experiences.

• Context-Dependent Power Dynamics: Acknowledge that power dynamics and social standings of identities can vary across different environments and cultures.

• Avoidance of Oppression Olympics: Resist the urge to compare or rank different forms of oppression, recognizing the unique challenges faced by each intersection of identities. 

• Active Disruption and Dismantling of Oppressive Systems: Anti-oppressive practice goes beyond recognition and understanding; it actively seeks to challenge, disrupt, and dismantle oppressive structures and systems.

• Cultural Humility: Engage in continuous self-reflection, recognize power imbalances, commit to lifelong learning about diverse cultures, and center the experiences of marginalized communities. This approach fosters an inclusive environment that respects and values diversity while challenging personal biases and assumptions.

We recognize that our approach and framing of anti-oppressive practice has its limitations and growth edges. 

• Complexity of Measurement: We acknowledge the difficulty in quantifying or objectively measuring oppression across different intersections. 

• Avoidance of Oversimplification: We recognize the need to resist the tendency to oversimplify the interpretation of problems on individual axes, particularly the gender axis.

• Recognition of Within-Group Differences: We acknowledge that even within specific intersections, there can be significant variations in individual experiences.

• Historical and Contextual Variability: We understand that social identities and their implications are not fixed but vary historically and contextually.

• Inclusion of Privilege: We need to incorporate analysis of both disadvantages and privileges experienced by individuals based on their intersecting identities.