Racial and Gender Oppression: A behavior-analytic interpretation based on Patricia Hill Collins’ thoughts

Abstract

The struggle against oppression seems to be central to Black feminism. However, (Black) feminist literature rarely explicitly defines the term oppression. This paper aims to propose a behavior-analytical interpretation of oppression, by using racial and gender oppression experienced by Black women as its base. Three chapters of the book “Black Feminist Thought” were selected. The possible antecedents, responses and consequences of oppression, and how Black women respond to oppression were analyzed. White people (racial oppression) and males (gender oppression) oppress upon perceiving certain social markers/features of race and gender. The topographies of oppression are varied (e.g., denying rights, subjugating) and lead to benefits for the white group and losses for the Black group. Black women respond to oppression with behaviors such as Black feminist thought and self definition, i.e., creating their own images. Oppressive behaviors are only possible because there is an asymmetry of power
between groups, with white supremacy and male superiority being identified as examples of historical antecedents. Finally, we propose a definition of oppression as a differential response that has the disparity of power between groups as its historical antecedent context and the perception of social markers (e.g., race, class, gender) as its immediate antecedent, which has as consequences the production of benefits (reinforcers related to power) for those who oppress and harm to those who are oppressed.