Measuring Oppression Experienced by Service Users While They are Receiving Services from Human Service Organizations

ABSTRACT

This study uses a sequential mixed-method design to test a measure of service user oppression in human service organization. A five-factor measurement model of service user oppression is tested using confirmatory factor analysis of cross-sectional survey data (n = 374), followed by qualitative focus groups to provide context. All five factors of the Service User Oppression Scale were confirmed indicating that 84.5% of service users had experienced oppression. The research provides a valid and reliable tool to assess service user experiences of oppression.

PRACTICE POINTS

• This study found that service users experience oppression in the form of marginalization, exploitation, violence, powerlessness, and cultural imperialism while receiving services from human service organizations.

• This study developed a measurement tool to assess the extent and experience of service user oppression by human service organizations.

• The Service User Oppression Scale is found to be a valid and reliable measure of service user experiences of oppression in human service organizations.

• Understanding oppression from the experiences of service users can highlight areas for organizational development, adaptation, and innovation in human service organizations.

KEYWORDS:

• Anti-oppressive practice
• cultural competency
• exploitation
• management
• marginalization
• powerlessness
• service user oppression
• violence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Government of Ontario [Ontario Graduate Scholarship]; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [Graduate Scholarship].