ABSTRACT
The chapter explores meanings and experiences of power, privilege, and oppression, paying particular attention to intersectionality. The chapter begins by offering basic definitions of power, privilege, and oppression. It differentiates power from privilege and discusses the complexities of earned and unearned power; positive and negative advantages within privilege; and relative, ascribed, and contextual privilege.. The chapter then describes prejudice and stereotyping and their relation to systemic oppression; examines multiple levels of oppression and privilege (ideological, intrapsychic and internalized, interpersonal, and institutional); differentiates intention from effect; and reviews research on colorblind racial attitudes and aversive racism. The chapter explores the deep and widespread detrimental effects from oppressive hierarchies at institutional, interpersonal, and individual levels. It concludes by emphasizing that systemic inequities are socially constructed and inviting readers to consider how they might contribute to or resist these constructions. The chapter includes reflection exercises for readers to examine the areas in which they are socially privileged and socially oppressed, how their awareness of their positionalities might relate to structural issues, and the specific experiences they may have had related to their positionalities.
