What is the definition of internalized oppression and how can this happen?
Internalising the hatred of oppression is when an oppressed minority or person within that minority takes on board (begins to believe) the hatred society levels at them and becomes self-hating because of it. An example would be a gay teen becoming depressed and committing suicide because of the barrage of negative messages leveled at him or her and teasing or disapproval shown by family, friends, media etc Adults can become self-loathing because of societal hatred too, of course. Gay children of fundie christians are in one of the highest risk groups for suicide but internalised hatred can happen with (eg) black people too who have unconsciously bought into the unending negative stream of messages of racism and hatred that they are bombarded with from society and the media. The self hatred can manifest itself in many ways including passively as in depression or suicide, alcoholism, drug abuse, promiscuity and/or aggression and anti-social or illegal behavior.
