My impression is that the oppressed are not interested in equality. They were not educated for wanting equality. It is an idealistic view about them they don’t spouse. The oppressed want to be the oppressors.
As they can not grasp the habitus of the upper classes, they try to emulate the visible part of being elite: the purchase and display of consumer products. And the wheels keep moving.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I appreciate the provocative perspective you're bringing to the conversation. While it’s true that some individuals may emulate the visible symbols of the elite, it seems a bit reductive to say the oppressed only aspire to become oppressors. Desires for material goods often stem from a need for dignity, recognition, and agency—elements that don't necessarily equate to wanting to perpetuate systems of oppression.
Additionally, while the habitus of the upper classes might not be fully accessible to everyone, this doesn’t mean that equality as an ideal isn’t part of what many oppressed groups fight for. Equality can take many forms—political, social, and economic—and what people are really seeking is fairness and the chance to live without barriers, rather than simply switching places in the hierarchy.
Thanks again for engaging with the text, Rafael—it’s great to have these kinds of challenging perspectives to discuss!
Thank you Andrew. Sometimes I am too provocative and I regret a little. I was echoing the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, when he said the oppressed has to be educated in a way they can brake away from the oppressor/oppressed scheme.
Nothing wrong with a little provocation. Nevertheless, I hear you, but, from my own experience, i would suggest that education alone doesn’t always equate to liberation. Freire himself would probably agree—education is a powerful tool, but it’s not a magic solution. Oppression is often embedded in deeper systemic structures, and even those who are educated can find themselves still facing those barriers. It’s frustrating, and it’s a reminder that while education is essential, dismantling oppression requires broader systemic change. Thanks for sharing that, Rafael—it’s an important point that deserves attention.
My impression is that the oppressed are not interested in equality. They were not educated for wanting equality. It is an idealistic view about them they don’t spouse. The oppressed want to be the oppressors.
As they can not grasp the habitus of the upper classes, they try to emulate the visible part of being elite: the purchase and display of consumer products. And the wheels keep moving.
Very good text thank you.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I appreciate the provocative perspective you're bringing to the conversation. While it’s true that some individuals may emulate the visible symbols of the elite, it seems a bit reductive to say the oppressed only aspire to become oppressors. Desires for material goods often stem from a need for dignity, recognition, and agency—elements that don't necessarily equate to wanting to perpetuate systems of oppression.
Additionally, while the habitus of the upper classes might not be fully accessible to everyone, this doesn’t mean that equality as an ideal isn’t part of what many oppressed groups fight for. Equality can take many forms—political, social, and economic—and what people are really seeking is fairness and the chance to live without barriers, rather than simply switching places in the hierarchy.
Thanks again for engaging with the text, Rafael—it’s great to have these kinds of challenging perspectives to discuss!
Thank you Andrew. Sometimes I am too provocative and I regret a little. I was echoing the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, when he said the oppressed has to be educated in a way they can brake away from the oppressor/oppressed scheme.
Nothing wrong with a little provocation. Nevertheless, I hear you, but, from my own experience, i would suggest that education alone doesn’t always equate to liberation. Freire himself would probably agree—education is a powerful tool, but it’s not a magic solution. Oppression is often embedded in deeper systemic structures, and even those who are educated can find themselves still facing those barriers. It’s frustrating, and it’s a reminder that while education is essential, dismantling oppression requires broader systemic change. Thanks for sharing that, Rafael—it’s an important point that deserves attention.