Understanding the 4 Levels of Opportunity, Change, and Oppression

 Oppression

• Historical, over time, on-going, systemic targeting of certain groups as “less than”

• Supported institutionally in policies, laws, representation in top-level decision makers

• Personal costs to everyone

Target
--Statistically less likely to succeed
--Deprived systematically of benefits
--Devalued, seen as deviant from norm and undeserving
--Segregated & stigmatized as inferior

Non-Target
--Statistically more likely to succeed
--Unearned benefits and privilege
--Valued, seen as normal, deserving and entitled benefits
--Included in decisions and societal benefits

Key Terms Defined

Intersectionality: The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

Diversity: Variety, variation, more importantly, differences that make a difference.

All the ways in which people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. While diversity is often used in reference to race, ethnicity, and gender, we embrace a broader definition of diversity that also includes age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. Our definition also includes diversity of thought: ideas, perspectives, and values. We also recognize that individuals affiliate with multiple identities.

Inclusion: The active, intentional and ongoing engagement with diversity - in people, in programs, and in communities (intellectual, social, cultural, geographical, denominational) with which individuals might connect- in ways that increase one’s awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within (and change) systems and institutions.

Intercultural competence: The ability to work effectively across lines of (cultural) difference.

Equity (individual focus): The creation of opportunities for historically underrepresented populations to have equal access to resources and full participation in opportunities especially those that advance historically marginalized groups.

Equity (organizational/leadership focus): The creation of opportunities for historically underrepresented populations of employees, board members, and Reform Movement members to have equal access to participation, Jewish learning, professional growth and resource networks that are capable of closing the demographic disparities in leadership roles in all spheres of institutional functioning.

Empowerment: A multi-dimensional social process that helps people gain control over their own lives. It is a process that fosters power in people for use in their own lives, their communities, and in their society by acting on issues that they define as important.

Opportunities to Advance Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity on Different Levels

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