Look at me But please Don’t look at me In this op-ed, I propose a novel perspective for engaging in anti-oppressive work within classrooms. But first, I provide a framework to better explain why this approach may be necessary for disentangling and de-threading the oppressive fabric that exists in every single one of us. In […]
We are angry. We are indignant. We are hurt. We are distraught. We are united in pain, frustration, and a want for change. Centuries of cumulative trauma brought on by racial discrimination have spilled over into what we see today in streets across our country. Social media, conversations, articles and op-eds are plentiful. All make […]
Many individuals in the U.S. experience oppression on the basis of their racial and/or ethnic identity, immigration status, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religious identity, language, etc. (Benner & Wang, 2014; Corbett & Hill, 2012; Maira, 2004; Unks, 1995; M. S. Williams, 2000). Further, many individuals hold multiple marginalized identities that […]
Microaggressions have been linked to reductions in psychological and physical health (Sue, 2010). The term racial microaggression is a term first utilized by Pierce (1970) to describe the subtle, jarring, typically automatic or unconscious, verbal and nonverbal exchanges; often perceived as understated, insulting “put downs” directed at people of color. Sue et al. (2007) did […]
I am a therapist-in-training and I am a feminist psychotherapist. Just as it is important to identify my trainee status when I meet a client for the first time, I find it is equally important to identify myself as a feminist psychotherapist. Feminism has been defined and redefined a number of times over the years […]
Developed by the psychologist/priest Ignacio Martín–Baró, liberation psychology examines contexts of oppression to foster critical consciousness, emancipation, and transformative action. In this article I use a liberation tool—testimonio—first person narration that expresses psychosocial experiences as a protagonist/witness (Aron, 1992). For over 35 years I have incorporated liberation psychology into my psychotherapy practice. Although classically trained, I have long […]