How internalized oppression creates a psychological barrier to physical health
In short: When a group is systematically marginalized, the pressure can lead them to adopt the oppressor's negative views as their own truth. This psychological injury doesn't just hurt self-esteem; it creates a tangible, invisible barrier that prevents people from seeking the medical care they need to survive.
Internalized oppression occurs when members of a marginalized group assimilate the negative beliefs of an oppressing group, eventually accepting these stereotypes as truth. This process is a byproduct of socialization within an oppressive environment, where repetitive exposure to discrimination, harassment, and microaggressions causes psychological injury. Over time, this can lead to an 'assaulted sense of self,' where individuals stop taking active responsibility for their own well-being and instead develop maladaptive habits based on stress-induced responses. This phenomenon is often categorized as internalized racism, sexism, or ableism. It can also manifest as internalized domination, where the oppressing group views their own superior status as natural and faultless.
A 2018-2019 qualitative study of Kurds in Turkey—a population that has faced a century of oppression—highlights how this manifests in healthcare. Researchers found that those who do not speak the official language face significant barriers, including poor provider relationships, delayed treatment, and low adherence to medication. Crucially, the study identified that internalized oppression specifically creates a sense of reluctance to seek healthcare, effectively impairing both individual and collective agency to fight for better conditions. Patients also reported a dependence on others to navigate the medical system. These individuals faced a general inability to exercise their established health rights. Furthermore, they expressed significant dissatisfaction with the services they received.
The mechanism is cyclical: the trauma of oppression harms the individual's self-system, including self-worth and self-regulation, which in turn hinders the group's ability to foster counterspaces or practice active citizenship. To address this, the study suggests a dual approach: top-down policy shifts that officially recognize oppressed populations and incorporate their languages into healthcare, alongside bottom-up community empowerment to dismantle the internalized beliefs that prevent people from accessing their rights. Future research should investigate how these dynamics appear in contexts beyond ethnicity or language. Experts suggest raising awareness among healthcare stakeholders about these specific psychological barriers. The goal is to move toward a human-rights-based framework for equity.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Oppression and internalized oppression as an emerging theme in accessing healthcare: findings from a qualitative study assessing first-language related barriers among the Kurds in Turkey.
- Also: Internalized oppression
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