Anti-Oppression
Resisting oppression and injustice is a core part of what makes the SCM a unique spiritual movement.
Throughout our history, we’ve always tried to be at the forefront of movements for social justice. Today, we continue this tradition, while recognizing that oppression is not just ‘other people’s problem,’ but is part of our own communities and affects us all.
SCM Anti-Oppression Covenant
Passed by consensus of SCM National Council (May 15, 2004)
WE CONFESS that we are in broken and oppressive relationships with each other.
WE CONFESS that in challenging our society we often fail to challenge our own behaviours, assumptions and privilege.
WE UNDERSTAND that until we transform all forms of oppression, which are interdependent, we cannot be whole.
WE UNDERSTAND that we need anti-oppressive policies to challenge all forms of oppression, including (but not limited to) racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism and ableism.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND that policy must be buttressed by a way of being in nurturing community. Policy is not to create fear but to create safer spaces for reconciliation.
WE COMMIT to anti-oppression policies as a first step, as works in progress.
AS THE STUDENT CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT, we make this covenant: we commit to the long process of building true communion.
GLOSSARY
A larger anti-oppression glossary and other resources can be found at SOA Watch
Ableism: A pervasive system of discrimination and exclusion that oppresses people who have mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Like other forms of oppression, ableism operates on individual, institutional and cultural levels (SOA Watch Anti-Oppression glossary)
Classism: Prejudice and/or discrimination, either personally or institutionally, against people because of their real or perceived economic status or background (SOA Watch Anti-Oppression glossary)
Communion: One of the sacraments (rituals) of the Church in which people are reconciled to each other and to God, and are mystically united as one body in Christ. In the context of SCM’s work, though we don’t have one version or theology around communion, we see it as the deepest symbol of unity, interconnectedness and solidarity.
Confession: Historically, confession was a sacrament (ritual) in the Church also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation, recognizing both the action of the believer in changing their behaviour, and the action of God, who uses the sacrament to reconcile us to Godself (
Covenant: A sacred agreement or commitment, in which the contract is not merely between people but involves the divine.
Heterosexism: The concept that heterosexuality and only heterosexuality is natural, normal, superior, and required. This can refer to any institution or belief system that excludes or makes invisible questioning, lesbian, non-labeling, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gay people, as well as any system that constructs queer sexualities as deviant, wrong, or immoral. Homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia all stem from and are supported by heterosexism. Heterosexism enforces and is enforced by a binary gender system (SOA Watch Anti-Oppression glossary)
Homophobia: The fear or hatred of gays, lesbians, or queer-identified people in general. This can be manifested as an intense dislike or rejection of such people, or violent actions against them. Associated with the system of heterosexism
Interdependent: A way of saying that the various forms and systems of oppression are not separate, and can’t be isolated into distinct categories, to be addressed on their own. Oppression is a network of intersecting and related forms of domination and the oppression of one group must be resisted alongside the oppression of others.
Oppression: Prejudice and power. A systematic social phenomenon based on the difference between social groups that involves ideological domination, institutional control, and the promulgation of the oppressor group’s ideology, logic system and culture on the oppressed group. The result is the exploitation of one social group by another for its own benefit, real or imagined (SOA Watch Anti-Oppression glossary)
Patriarchy: Patriarchy in its wider definition means the manifestation and institutionalization of male dominance over women and children in the family and the extension of male dominance over women in society in general (SOA Watch Anti-Oppression glossary)
Privilege: Systems of power that benefit and favour members of a dominant group over members of a marginalized group. Privilege is unearned power enjoyed by a dominant group, giving them economic, political, social and cultural advantages (from United Church That All May Be One 2004 )
Race: A now-contested term referring to a socially defined group seen by others (or seeing itself) as being distinct by sharing external features such as skin colour, facial or bodily characteristics, hair texture, and/or a common descent (from United Church That All May Be One 2004)
Racism: A system of advantage and privilege based on ‘race,’ in which one group of people exercises abusive power over others on the basis of skin colour and racial heritage (from United Church That All May Be One 2004).
Reconciliation: The process of healing relationships which have been broken by systems of oppression. Reconciliation can involve taking responsibility for wrongs committed, apology, amending current behaviour and assumptions, challenging systems and structures in which oppression continues, and striving to be an ally to marginalized people. The Anglican Church of Canada describes this process as “walking, step by step, in conversations and relationships and programs, trying to build right relations” between dominant and marginalized groups (A Living Apology)
Safer spaces: Although we would love to see a world where all can be safe, the reality is that oppression can happen in any community, no matter how committed we are to living differently. We use ‘safer spaces’ in order to remind ourselves that anti-oppression is a process and requires continuous effort.
Sexism: Sexism is the outward manifestation of an inward system of values deliberately designed to structure privilege by means of an objective, differential, and unequal treatment of women, for the purpose of social advantage over scarce resources. This values system gives rise to an ideology of supremacy which justifies power of position by placing a negative meaning and value on perceived or actual biological/cultural differences. Sexism is connected with of the system of patriarchy (SOA Watch Anti-Oppression glossary)
Transphobia: The fear or hatred of transgendered and transsexual people. Like biphobia, this term was created to call attention to the ways that prejudice against trans people differs from prejudice against other queer people. There is often transphobia in gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities, as well as straight communities.
