Disability, Aging & Oppression

What is Oppression?

Defining oppression is very challenging. Perhaps the best way to define oppression is by examining its root word: oppress. The American Heritage Dictionary defines oppress in two ways: “to keep down by unjust use of force or authority” and “to weigh heavily on the mind or spirit of (American Heritage, 1994).” I believe that both of these definitions adequately explore what oppression manifests itself as in the library environment for both the victims of oppression and the applications on oppression to greater society.

Attempting to understand what oppression is requires examination of group oppression versus individual oppression. As library professionals, we tend to focus on individual services and often stray from “grouping” patrons together. We focus on customer service and user experience on a very individual basis. Each patron is considered to be a unique individual with unique information needs. Yet, when it comes to patrons with disabilities and patrons who are senior citizens, we group. Peter Jones examined the philosophical aspect of group and individual rights in his article, Group Rights and Group Oppression (Jones, 1999). He writes:

“There is little about group rights that is uncontroversial but there is at least this much agreement up on the basic concept: a right is a group right only if it is a right held by a group rather than by its members severally. If rights are held by individuals separately, their shared rights do not add up to a group right even though their rights relate to a characteristic which marks them off, sociologically, as a group. A right is a group right only it is a right held by a group qua group (Jones, 1999).”

Although this concept is very philosophical in nature, it does have very practical application in the world of library and information science. Where does group oppression begin and individual oppression end? How do we facilitate individual rights without “grouping” all individuals experiencing disabilities together? Are we addressing oppression with too much emphasis on group and too little emphasis on individuals?

 Do you think that persons with disabilities experience oppression?

I definitely believe that persons with disabilities experience oppression but I don’t believe that this oppression occurs intentionally by most institutions and individuals. Having a disability often times makes life more challenging and institutions owe it to all patrons to provide access services which make the experiences of the disabled as streamlined to experiences of the non-disabled, which is often a challenging. It’s important for us to utilize all of the resources available and to say informed to avoid unintentionally oppressing (“keeping down by force or authority”) our patrons.

How would you use issues of oppression in working with persons with disabilities?

Working in a public library environment, library professionals encounter individuals with disabilities on a daily basis. Often times we are unaware of the challenges that many individuals with disabilities face. Perhaps our best line of defense in attacking oppression is communication. Talking to individuals with disabilities about their need and desires to improve services is often a simple and practical tool that is far too often unused. Joining and keeping informed with organizations that promote and inform about services to those with disabilities is another way that oppression can be fought.

Can this same concept of oppression be applied to the experiences of older adults?

Older adults are definitely oppressed in many institutions. Again, I don’t believe that this occurs intentionally most of the time, but it does occur. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges that service to older adults bring is the inability on the part of library professionals to understand their unique needs as individuals.

It continues to amaze me how often senior citizens are typecast as having certain personality characteristics and enjoying certain specific tasks. Not all seniors have jolly personalities and enjoy Bingo. Also, not all senior citizens read exclusively large print materials and have difficulties using computer equipment. These stereotypes need to be addressed and recognized as issues of oppression.

Work Cited:

American Heritage Dictionary.

Jones, P. (1999), Group Rights and Group Oppression. Journal of Political Philosophy, 7: 353–377. doi: 10.1111/1467-9760.00081