It is interesting how this week’s readings intertwine despite being about two different topics from two different perspectives. Marilyn Frye’s article establishes a definition for the word “oppression” and explains its mechanism while taking women as an example. It speaks from the point of view of, in this case, the underprivileged group and provides many examples of how women are oppressed as women. Meanwhile, “White Privilege” by Peggy McIntosh explores the issue of oppression from the perspective of a privileged group. One phrase that struck me while reading this paper was “I can choose blemish cover or bandages . . . and have them more or less match my skin.” It felt weird that things so simple and usual can cause discomfort to a huge number of people, but are still not addressed as much. Peggy McIntosh found out on her own example that oppressiveness can be, and often is unconscious.

The same phenomenon happens throughout different hierarchies in the society, including gender hierarchies, which are discussed in the book “Oppression.” While reading through it I learned that there’s a more proper word for something I encounter almost daily – “double bind.” I’ve always thought of this feature as “double standards,” by which our behavior is shaped in a certain way. The term double bind however offers an idea that these standards do not allow for shaping the behavior to any side of the spectrum — it simply squeezes women from both sides, making everything they do wrong and miserable. An example Marilyn Frye provides is how being sexually active will make a woman be perceived as a whore, while being sexually inactive will label a woman as “frigid” and “cocktease.” Both of the options can be used as proof that this woman wanted to be raped, therefore justifying the rape itself. Such double binds always put a woman in a losing position, while benefiting the oppressor by establishing the male privilege.