Oppression/Privilege Fence

Allison Bonilla
2 min readJul 31, 2023
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Are you familiar with the oppression wheel? It presents a framework that can assist individuals in identifying aspects of their identity that may indicate privilege or oppression.

Adapted from ccrweb.ca

While it can be informative, there is a risk of its misuse to promote inappropriate policies and instigate guilt among those considered privileged. Additionally, it may foster hostility between those who have privilege and those who do not, as well as unwarranted feelings of disenfranchisement among those who perceive themselves as oppressed.

This subject is of interest to me because of the many conversations I have been a part of in the last few months. I have been in conversations where my opinion as a heterosexual, educated, black, female, immigrant has been sought out. To some people, I represented the privileged, to others I represented the oppressed.

In reality, the concept of oppression and privilege has many nuances and is contingent on which side of the fence one finds themselves. In certain situations, what grants someone privilege can also subject them to oppression, and vice versa — aspects that identify someone as oppressed may also provide opportunities for privilege.

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Allison Bonilla
Allison Bonilla

Written by Allison Bonilla

Relationship Coach, Work-life Balance Strategist, and Christian Coach. I serve people who want healthier relationships at home and in the office.