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Experiences of Oppression

 Experiences of Oppression

I believe that everyone from teenagers to adults experience some form of oppression in their lives. 
Whether it be oppressions of exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism and violence, and domination or other, they will feel the impact and have to navigate in a way to address them head on.  For me I had to deal with marginalization's such as racism as a man of color - an African American male, my sexuality for identifying as bisexual, ableism for my lost of some hearing, and adultism after crossing over the age of 55.   I have always considered myself a part of the LGBTQA+ community and often times when someone learns of my sexual identity, often their perception of me or treatment of me changes a bit.  After experiencing some lost of hearing and having to wear heading aids, I had been denied a chance of moving into a new work assignment or position, because it requires a person with normal hearing ability.  And as an older adult, I have found some people treated me a senior citizen, refer to me a Mr. Kelley, rather than Kelley or Mr. Webster (preferred), and feels that certain physical task could be too much of a challenge for me due to my age.  Our class module on Experiences of Oppression focus on real-world experience of oppression and the challenge the situation of oppression as a social worker.

Below is my class discussion on one of four videos of real persons experiencing some form of oppressions.

5.6 Discussion 3 - Experiences of Oppression - Adventures of T-Man

Terrence (aka T-Man), a 26-year-old Black man talks about people with autism and exemplifies the strengths of having demonstrated the ability to pay attention to visual and auditory information, directness, and show a strong moral compass.    Terrence’s cognitive functions allow him to learn how to perform his daily duties on the job well.  I think the main challenge that he has is dealing with an array of different personalities with his co-workers that he is not normally accustomed to, as he mentions that some autistic people like to keep to themselves.  He does not like negativity and being constantly told that he can’t do something that he has his mind set on accomplishing.  T-Man is confronted with a back-and-forth conflict of finding, renting, and maintaining an apartment of his own – decision-making.  Many young adults face similar situations as Terrence in making quick, fast, irrational decisions.  Although, he had assistance from others in trying to help him understand his present budget does not really support him at this time to live on his own independently and financially.  He goes ahead with his plan to move because this is his goal and a strong desire to help him move forward in life, and experience life more as an adult with responsibilities.  T-Man’s life is impacted by all five oppressions of exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism and violence, and domination.  However, marginalization struck me first off and throughout the film in regard to ableism.  Many felt that he was not able to take on some of the challenges the average adult faces such as learning and developing skills to better market himself for good-paying employment.  The ability to become independent in spite of one’s disability.  Even his parents doubted his ability over and over until they came to the realization that he has to learn through experiencing different and new things in life on his own.  At the very start of the film, I felt that T-Man possessed a good level of intelligence and the ability to think logically.  His speech is strong, and clear and it is easy to understand him.  The tool of having an on-site aid or one to visit and check in with him brings many of the services a social worker would utilize with Terrence.  I would use the strength-based approach in discussing his growth within counseling and offer any other resources that he is open to trying in helping him to develop more independently.  I am glad that this film was made and that they found Terrence (T-Man) Fenner to be the subject of bringing awareness to autistic adults.

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