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Dismantling Racism Resource Book

ISOLATION

Definition: a necessary component of oppression that frames injustice in terms of individuals
rather than recognizing commonalties between members of a group or between groups.
Example: People with disabilities at community, Example: BGLT youth have often been
state, and national levels are organizing to break isolated because adult BGLT organizations
isolation. This movement gained momentum in the fear being accused of “converting” youths.
early 1980’s and got the American Disabilities Act However, BGLT youth organizations are on the
passed in 1990. rise, often with the leadership of young people
themselves.

INDIVIDUAL SOLUTIONS

Definition: seeking to create change at an individual level rather then at the level of social change.
Example: Welcoming individual BGLT people into Example: Giving spare change to homeless
congregational life without examining how people without organizing as a community
heterosexism operates within one’s denomination and to address poverty at local, national and
society. global levels.

ASSIMILATION
Definition: taking on the appearance and values of the dominant culture. It is important to
recognize that assimilation occurs under varying conditions: sometimes it is forced, other times it is
desired, and its success is usually mitigated by recognizable difference such as skin color.
Example: Native American people have Example: In the nineteenth century many
experienced forced assimilation through the African American people desired to assimilate
taking of their children to white run schools to (while others did not), but were only allowed a
unlearn their culture—this is considered cultural limited assimilation due to the racism of the
genocide. dominant culture.

Defined terms are taken from Suzanne Pharr’s “The Common Elements of Oppression” in The
Welcoming Congregation, 1995 ed. Used by permission.

Dismantling Racism Project 36 Western States Center