For this week’s Brown Bag discussion, the NCSD staff took a deeper dive into internalized oppression and discussed its implications within the field of STD prevention.

Internalized oppression occurs when a member or members of a cultural group begin to believe the stereotypes and prejudices that are said about them, leading the group or person to internalize the messaging and incorporate it into their self-image. When these myths and misinformation are internalized, it often has an inhibiting effect, preventing people from achieving their full potential.

In the field of STD prevention, internalized oppression often leads to individuals not seeking out the care they need. For example, a person of low socioeconomic standing may not go to routine checkups because they have internalized the messaging that poor people do not deserve the same standard of health care as wealthier people. It is also important to remember that the messaging that is being internalized could be seen as positive, but still have negative implications. A black woman who is constantly told by society that she needs to be strong and independent may not seek out medical or psychological services because she feels that she needs to handle these issues on her own. To prevent the harmful effects of internalized oppression, it is vital that we recognize the fact that there is no “one size fits all” approach to identity. One person’s beliefs or actions do not reflect the larger community they are part of. We can begin to dismantle systems of internalized oppression by highlighting the diversity within communities and showing that an identity does not define how any single person thinks or behaves.

As public health professionals, it is also important that we do not inadvertently contribute to these negative narratives when addressing health disparities. While it is important to highlight the barriers faced by various populations, it is also important to focus on how these barriers can be prevented in the first place. We must ensure that we are placing as much emphasis on preventing the outcomes as we do on addressing outcomes themselves. For example, while it is true that MSM carry an overwhelming burden of newly acquired STD and HIV infections, it is vital that we do not treat the entire community as nothing more than health risks. If we do this, we run the risk of furthering a harmful narrative that only contributes to the larger issue of internalized oppression within the community.

Below you will find some more useful information on internalized oppression, and examples of how its effects play out in society. Additionally, if you would like to facilitate your own discussion on this issue, feel free to utilize the following resources as a guide.