Deconstructing hierarchies of oppression and adopting a ‘multiple model’ approach to anti-oppressive practice

Abstract

This paper seeks to establish that hierarchies of oppression exist, that these are destructive, degrading and dehumanising, and that these hierarchies need to be understood in order to preclude unwitting collusion with hierarchical thinking and operating. The roles of hegemony and of attributes in hierarchies are outlined and discussed. Hierarchies of oppressive experiences are defined and denounced as inextricably emanating from the same destructive force as their inverse, hierarchies of oppression.

Having deconstructed hierarchies of oppression, it is the authors' assertion that a new, fundamentally non-hierarchical approach is called for in understanding and challenging oppression in all its forms. A ‘multiple model’ approach is outlined to this end and the authors contend that failure to progress and adopt a multiple approach has, to date, been determined less by the absence of an adequate model than by resistance and by internalised oppressive hierarchical-thinking, which mirrors the destructive phenomena of oppression itself. The authors conclude by suggesting that without progress, social work and social work education will continue to collude with and replicate oppressive hierarchical thinking.