--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oppression works in such a way that it…" description: "\"Oppression works in such a way that it holds every person responsible for the acts of any wrongdoer of the oppressed group.\" — Rita Mae Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/rita-mae-brown-1111_discrimination_oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-h_1060828.png" --- # Oppression works in such a way that it holds every person… ![“Oppression works in such a way that it holds every person responsible for the acts of any wrongdoer of the oppressed group.” quote by Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/rita-mae-brown-1111_discrimination_oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-h_1060828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/rita-mae-brown-1111_discrimination_oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-h_1060828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/rita-mae-brown-1111_discrimination_oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-h_1060828.png) > “Oppression works in such a way that it holds every person responsible for the acts of any wrongdoer of the oppressed group.” [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Oppression can unfairly blame all members of a group for the actions of a few. **In simple terms:** Collective blame harms everyone. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes and promote individual accountability. Themes oppression justice collective responsibility Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical social When to use this quote - workplace - policy making - community activism Key Concepts social dynamics bias accountability Questions to Reflect On - How can we differentiate individual actions from systemic oppression? - What steps can reduce collective blame? A Different Perspective Oversimplification may ignore systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed/) [Oppressed Group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppressed-group-1273614/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Oppression Works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression-works-2589984/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wrongdoer Oppressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrongdoer-oppressed-2589985/) ## Related quotes > [In order to create an alternative an oppressed group must at once shatter the self-reflecting world which encircles it and, at the same time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/in-order-to-create-an-alternative-an-oppressed-group-must-at-once/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [We need a broad commitment to human rights across the board. We cannot attain that simply by protecting one oppressed group or the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/we-need-a-broad-commitment-to-human-rights-across-the-board-we-cannot/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [It would be hard to find a single example in history in which a group that cast more than 50 percent of the vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/it-would-be-hard-to-find-a-single-example-in-history-in-which-a-group/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [“They wouldn’t do it without a cause, would they? You must have done something to provoke them.” As if that’s how oppression works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/they-wouldn-t-do-it-without-a-cause-would-they-you-must-have-done/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [That's how oppression works. Thousands of otherwise decent people are persuaded to go along with an unfair system because changing it seems like too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-penny/that-s-how-oppression-works-thousands-of-otherwise-decent-people-are/) [Laurie Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-penny/) > [all outcast peoples struggle to be recognized as individuals. The damage of oppression is that it robs you of your individuality. You're just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/all-outcast-peoples-struggle-to-be-recognized-as-individuals-the/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Obviously the most oppressed of any oppressed group will be its women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-hansberry/obviously-the-most-oppressed-of-any-oppressed-group-will-be-its-women/) [Lorraine Hansberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-hansberry/) > [Those who are most sensitive about "politically incorrect" terminology are not the average black ghetto-dweller, Asian immigrant, abused woman or disabled person, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-kaczynski/those-who-are-most-sensitive-about-politically-incorrect-terminology/) [Theodore Kaczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-kaczynski/) > [Women are the only 'oppressed' group that is able to buy most of the $10 billion worth of cosmetics each year; the only oppressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/women-are-the-only-oppressed-group-that-is-able-to-buy-most-of-the-10/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [We cannot guarantee the human rights of any oppressed group alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/we-cannot-guarantee-the-human-rights-of-any-oppressed-group-alone/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Women are the only oppressed group in our society that lives in intimate association with their opressors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-cunningham/women-are-the-only-oppressed-group-in-our-society-that-lives-in/) [Evelyn Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-cunningham/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Poor and afflicted and oppressed people have faces, and we are required to look squarely into them. We can't love what we won't experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mairs/poor-and-afflicted-and-oppressed-people-have-faces-and-we-are/) [Nancy Mairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mairs/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) ## More by Rita Mae Brown > [“Friendship distills the sweetness of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/friendship-distills-the-sweetness-of-life/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/about-all-you-can-do-in-life-is-be-who-you-are-some-people-will-love/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [He tried to drown his troubles but they knew how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/he-tried-to-drown-his-troubles-but-they-knew-how-to-swim/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“The most revolutionary thing you can do is to be yourself, to speak your truth, to open your arms to life including the pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/the-most-revolutionary-thing-you-can-do-is-to-be-yourself-to-speak/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Content without style is propaganda or adolescence. Style without content is decadence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/content-without-style-is-propaganda-or-adolescence-style-without/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Whenever I doubt the existence of God or the Goddess, I look at horses. Only God could have made a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/whenever-i-doubt-the-existence-of-god-or-the-goddess-i-look-at-horses/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Language is decanted and shared. If only one person is left alive speaking a language - the case with some American Indian languages -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/language-is-decanted-and-shared-if-only-one-person-is-left-alive/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“what would happen if she'd open her eyes and see only dark and feel satin from the coffin? That'd scare her enough to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/what-would-happen-if-she-d-open-her-eyes-and-see-only-dark-and-feel/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“You know, it’s hell to work with a cat. They really are smarter than we are. Have you ever gotten anyone to feed you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/you-know-it-s-hell-to-work-with-a-cat-they-really-are-smarter-than-we/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [I don't want to die. I think death is a greatly overrated experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/i-don-t-want-to-die-i-think-death-is-a-greatly-overrated-experience/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Leroy bet me I couldn't find a pot of gold at the end, and I told him that was a stupid bet because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/leroy-bet-me-i-couldn-t-find-a-pot-of-gold-at-the-end-and-i-told-him/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [An army of lovers shall not fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/an-army-of-lovers-shall-not-fail/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Cats and dogs believe politicians are like cemetery caregivers; they are on top of everyone, but nobody listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/cats-and-dogs-believe-politicians-are-like-cemetery-caregivers-they/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Femininity and masculinity are social constructs. Female and male are biological. We don't have to learn to be men or women but we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/femininity-and-masculinity-are-social-constructs-female-and-male-are/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/one-of-the-keys-to-happiness-is-a-bad-memory/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) [Explore all 290 Rita Mae Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) ## More Discrimination quotes > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Judging someone by the color of their skin is ignorant. Their skin complexion has nothing to do with their morals, beliefs or intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/judging-someone-by-the-color-of-their-skin-is-ignorant-their-skin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We try to take a very strong stance against discrimination and hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/we-try-to-take-a-very-strong-stance-against-discrimination-and-hatred/) [Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [End discrimination and hate everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy/end-discrimination-and-hate-everyone/) [Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy/) > [This bill would allow an employee to bring a claim against an employer decades after the alleged initial act of discrimination occurred. Trial lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-mckeon/this-bill-would-allow-an-employee-to-bring-a-claim-against-an/) [Buck McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-mckeon/) > [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) [Browse all 1,366 Discrimination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Oppression works in such a way that it holds every person responsible for the acts of any wrongdoer of the oppressed group.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rita Mae Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-holds-every-person-responsible/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discrimination" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-holds-every-person-responsible/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/rita-mae-brown-1111_discrimination_oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-h_1060828.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/rita-mae-brown-1111_discrimination_oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-h_1060828.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/rita-mae-brown-1111_discrimination_oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-h_1060828.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oppression works in such a way that it holds every person responsible for the acts of any wrongdoer of the…” — Rita Mae Brown", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rita Mae Brown", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Oppression works in such a way...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-holds-every-person-responsible/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/oppression-works-in-such-a-way-that-it-holds-every-person-responsible/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```