Oppression in Critical Theory: The Root of Modern Victimhood

Oppression is a common word in discussions about society, especially in the context of Critical Theory. Critical Theory suggests that our world is full of unfair power dynamics, where some groups oppress others based on race, gender, or class. But is this idea really as useful or accurate as some people think?

Seeing Oppression Everywhere

One of the first things that might make you raise an eyebrow about Critical Theory is how easily it seems to find oppression in everything. According to this way of thinking, almost anything that goes wrong in your life can be blamed on oppression. Didn’t get that promotion? It might be because of your gender or race. Feel unhappy in your marriage? Maybe it’s due to societal norms that oppress you.

This view can be very convenient for those who support Critical Theory because it means that the theory is never wrong. No matter what happens, it can always be explained as oppression. But when you look at it from a different angle, this approach seems a bit too simple. Life is complex, and not everything that goes wrong is because of some hidden oppressive force. Sometimes, bad things happen for reasons that have nothing to do with oppression, like personal choices or plain old bad luck.

The Rise of Victimhood

In the world of Critical Theory, being a victim of oppression isn’t just seen as unfortunate—it’s almost treated as a badge of honour. The more oppressed you are, the more moral authority you seem to have. This flips traditional values on their head. Instead of trying to overcome challenges and succeed despite obstacles, Critical Theory often encourages people to focus on how oppressed they are.

This way of thinking can create a problem. If you start to believe that being oppressed is something to be proud of, you might begin to look for oppression everywhere, even where it doesn’t exist. This can lead to a situation where people are more interested in complaining about their problems than actually solving them. It’s almost like oppression becomes a kind of currency—a way to gain sympathy and power, rather than something to overcome.

Can We Ever Really Make Progress?

Another issue with Critical Theory is that it often seems very pessimistic. It suggests that oppression is everywhere and so deeply embedded in society that it’s nearly impossible to escape. This can leave people feeling hopeless. After all, if the world is so thoroughly rigged against you, why bother trying to change anything?

This negative outlook can be paralysing. If you believe that the systems of oppression are so strong that they can never be truly dismantled, it’s easy to become disheartened and give up on trying to improve your life. This kind of thinking keeps Critical Theory relevant because, as long as oppression is believed to be inescapable, the need for Critical Theory never goes away. But it also means that people may be less likely to take practical steps to make their lives better.

The Intellectual Elite

Critical Theory often positions itself as a tool for understanding the world and fighting against unfair power structures. But in practice, it tends to create a new kind of hierarchy, where only those who are deeply versed in the theory are seen as truly understanding the world’s problems. This creates a group of intellectual elites who claim to know better than everyone else.

This elitism can be a problem because it shuts down different points of view. If you don’t agree with Critical Theory, you might be labelled as ignorant or as part of the problem. This makes it hard to have open, honest discussions about important issues. Instead, you end up with an echo chamber where only one perspective is allowed, and anyone who disagrees is silenced or dismissed.

The Business of Oppression

Finally, let’s talk about the fact that oppression has become big business. Universities offer expensive courses, companies pay for training sessions, and activists sell books—all centred around the idea of fighting oppression. What started as a serious academic discussion has turned into a profitable industry.

This is troubling because it turns real suffering into something that can be bought and sold. Instead of focusing on how to actually solve problems, much of the energy goes into selling solutions that might not do much more than make people feel like they’re doing something. Meanwhile, the industry keeps making money, and the cycle of talking about oppression continues.

WOKE MANTRA: I experience oppression, therefore I am

a tool for maintaining the relevance of the theory

Critical Theory talks about oppression more as a tool for maintaining the relevance of the theory itself than a real solution to the world’s problems. It encourages people to see themselves as victims, creates division where there could be unity, and turns suffering into a product to be sold.

In the end, while Critical Theory might offer some useful insights, its obsession with oppression can sometimes do more harm than good. It can trap people in a mindset where they feel powerless, divides society into opposing camps, and allows a small group of intellectuals to control the conversation. Instead of empowering people to overcome challenges, it can make them feel stuck in a never-ending cycle of grievance and blame.