We Are the Oppressor and the Oppressed: The Interplay Between Intrapsychic, Interpersonal, and Societal Intersectionality

Abstract

This paper explores the idea of multiple social identities in individuals and the interplay of these identities intrapsychically, interpersonally, and systemically. Oppression is often viewed as a binary concept: Either one is the oppressor or the oppressed. The author develops ideas of pluralism and intersectionality that exist in individuals and society to illustrate how everyone has the experience of being both the oppressor and the oppressed. He provides examples of responses to oppression at all levels (intrapsychic, interpersonal, and systemic) and builds on ideas from radical psychiatry to explain ways to move out of oppression. The article concludes with reflective questions that invite readers to explore the possible dynamics that exist in the therapy room as well as in other fields and contexts of human relations practice.

Keywords:

• Oppression
• intersectionality
• pluralism
• alienation
• mystification
• liberation
• minorities
• transactional analysis
• radical psychiatry

Disclosure statement

The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Deepak Dhananjaya

Deepak Dhananjaya is a Certified Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), a Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), an Agile-Leadership-Organisation Coach, and has an ACC-ICF credential. He has a private clinical, teaching, and supervision practice in psychotherapy and is the cofounder of AgileSattva Consulting, which focuses on organizational development and transformation in Bangalore, India. Deepak is also the founder of Prabhava Institute of Inclusive Mental Health (PIIMH), which focuses on inclusivity in mental health education and services. He is an engineer and has earned master’s degrees in sexuality and sexual counseling. Deepak works with marginalized communities, families, and in individual client settings. His work is deeply informed by transactional analysis and a socio-cultural-political frame of reference that is reflected in his writings and practice. He believes in compassionate activism. Deepak can be reached at 834, 31st A Cross, Thilaknagar, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560041, Karnataka, India; email: [email protected].