Oppression in the Twentieth Century - Essay Example

Oppression in the Twentieth Century The 20th century conception of oppression has broadened into a concept that covers specific victims and its effects. Three of the most significant of these are: 1) the oppression of the Third World by the imperialists; 2) the oppression of women; and, 3) the oppression of blacks in the United States. This paper will examine the origins of oppression and identify several authors on the subject including the ways they presented the concept. Furthermore, this examination will show how oppression came to permeate the consciousness of people, specifically in the context of the three previously mentioned movements. Background Much of the definition of oppression is attributed to its nineteenth century roots. Particularly, the works of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Karl Marx and John Stuart Mill were pivotal in outlining the systematic nature of oppression, which has tremendous influence in its modern forms. On the one hand, the works and philosophies of Gandhi, de Beauvoir, Malcolm X, among others, have added dimensions to oppression, updating its conception to contemporary twentieth century. Decolonization Imperialism and colonization dominated the discourse on oppression especially during the early part of the 20th century. From Africa, Asia to Latin America, there was a wave of liberation movements that demonstrated various experiences of oppression and the attempts to be free from it. One of these experiences is the emergence of conflicts such as World War II wherein colonies were expected to provide warm bodies to fight in the frontlines as well as supply the raw materials and augment the war chest of the their masters. The wartime sacrifices underscore a form of oppression that has permeated since the previous century and have spilled over to the 20th. Then, individual experiences amidst the dawn of modernity and the increased contact of people from various part of the globe, gave rise to the growth of nationalism. This aspect is highlighted in the case of Gandhi. He is one of the most vocal advocates of decolonization in Asia. Gandhi’s crusade for India’s independence from Britain was inspired by personal maltreatment as he was building his career in Africa as a lawyer. As a non-white person, he experienced being thrown out of first-class train car, barred from certain hotel rooms and beaten for no reason but his color. Gandhi’s philosophy behind the liberation movement he launched underscored a kind of oppression India experienced in its relationship with Britain. Here, oppression was in the form of dependency wherein India must rely on Britain in order for it to be civilized or grow and mature economically and politically. There are several underpinnings to this perspective. The most important of these is that Indians, in this argument, are considered inferior and must look to the oppressor for guidance. At this point, we are brought back to the Hegelian definition of oppression wherein people struggle to be recognized. As the vanquished people, Indians were oppressed by not being accorded the same recognition as that of the dominant sector and in the process lose their fundamental rights, their voice and power in the negotiation of social relationships and constructs. (111-118) Gandhi’s solution is to argue with the definition of civilization or what is civilized. In Hind Swaraj (Self Rule), Gandhi used his critique of Western civilization to justify that India’s culture is not inferior to that of the British. Through this strategy, he was able to define India’s identity and highlight the country’s uniqueness and, therefore, logical independence from Britain. For Gandhi, one drowning man (alluding to the corrupt and self-destructive British Empire) cannot save another. (p. 230) So, he stressed that self-rule is the only option for India. It would end the Indian slavery while at the same time affirming the Indian identity and maintaining the Indian moral fiber. Oppression of Women Simone de Beauvoir offered one of the most important definitions and critiques of oppression among women. Her thesis is that men are designated to represent human being in general, including all of his potentials while women represented only “the negative, defined by limiting criteria, without reciprocity.” (p. 234) In her arguments, de Beauvoir is only echoing the age-old oppression of women, but this time, she is highlighting it, specifically aiming to boost the feminist movement for equality. The biological factor has been cited as the main culprit of the culture of oppression that characterized the gender relations throughout the entire history of mankind. Du Beauvoir referred to the biased comparison: That the man is the absolute human type while the woman has ovaries and uterus. (p. 234) In this comparison, oppression is evident as “humanity is male and man defines woman not in herself but as a relative to him” and, hence, women are not seen as autonomous being but defined and differentiated with reference to man. (235) The ensuing oppression –is felt in all aspects of a woman’s life - from making choices, developing talents, finding jobs, right to vote, and so forth. Du Beauvoir stressed that women’s freedom is restricted by the imposition forced upon her by social, moral and cultural norms. Interestingly, du Beauvoir echoed Hegel’s solution in addressing women’s oppression. She cited the 20th century feminist movement’s rising attacks and the emergence of a war between genders who each are increasingly shut up in his or her sphere, wishing to dominate each other. Du Beauvoir argued that unless men and women recognize each other as equals, not only would the oppression go on but the quarrel as well as highlighted by the growing voice and influence held by the feminist movement. The Black in 20th Century America In 1960s, the civil rights movement was launched by Malcolm X. He led more than 22 million blacks in demanding for equality from a society that have previously considered blacks as non-person even after slavery was abolished. The discontent, which eventually turned into violent demonstrations and actual rebellion, stemmed from the fact that despite the equality being accorded to all race, discrimination within the American society remained. This was a combination of public and private acts against the black in such a way that they were hindered civil liberties in their daily lives. In the most part of the 20th century, blacks in America were barred to vote, they were forcefully segregated – banned from eating in restaurants where whites eat, from getting on a white-only bus, from building homes in white communities. The list of oppressive practices went on and on. This experience demonstrates a case of oppression driven by race. This is particularly significant given the fact that American values and its Constitution boasts of equality for all. The civil rights movement successfully pushed for desegregation, among other discriminatory practices. From the perspective of the blacks, equality should create equal opportunity for all and that a culture that draws from all races and traditions should be cultivated. This effort was to translate all the equality rhetoric into a legal matter along with the integration of a social one. Conclusion This paper’s examination of the 20th century conception of oppression revealed several important factors. First is that the incidence of oppression became so much varied and specific - from the colonization of nations, the oppression of women to the discrimination of blacks – within this period. Secondly, while there are specifically different issues and different forms of oppressors and oppressed involved, the patterns and dynamics in regard to how oppression is committed are commonly shared. Here, the Hegelian criterion best explains the case. In the relationship between the colony and its colonizer, men and women as well as the Black and the white-dominated American society, there is the “recognition variable” involved. The oppressor refuses to acknowledge an equal status of the victim and as a result, injustice was justified. In addition, the victims in the various forms of oppression – the colony, women and the blacks were historically vanquished by force and, therefore, have sustained long periods of subjugation, characterized by systematic enforcement of inferiority in all aspects of life – psychological, emotional, then political, cultural, social. In some instances, as with the case of colonization, a whole social or cultural structure is completely destroyed. In the struggles of the various movements during the 20th century such as those of the black’s, the women’s, and the anticolonialization campaigns, one finds that success came by recasting identities and coming together in order to more efficiently assert their identities and objectives. The leaders of the Civil Rights Movement – those representing the blacks, the Indians, the Chicano, the women, the gays – found several commonalities in their experiences and goals – deeming it imperative to unite and demand social and political reform together. Works Cited Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich. Phenomenology of Spirit. Motilal Banarsidass Publications, 1998. World History. Lynda Bell (Instructor). Riverside: University of California. Read More