On an individual level, oppression can occur through:

Oppression at the individual level often manifests through discriminatory practices that can be perpetrated by individuals or organizations. This can include actions such as prejudice, bias, and inequality in treatment based on various identities, including race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Discriminatory practices create systemic barriers for individuals that can result in negative social, economic, and emotional outcomes.

These practices can be overt, such as hate speech or intentional exclusion, or more subtle, such as microaggressions or implicit biases that affect how individuals are perceived and treated in various contexts. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for social workers, who must recognize these forms of oppression in order to advocate for affected individuals and address the broader systemic issues that contribute to social injustice.

In contrast, freedom of expression, community engagement initiatives, and promoting equal opportunities are generally aimed at fostering inclusion, empowerment, and a sense of belonging, which are essential for combating oppression rather than perpetuating it.