who's the most oppressed group in the USA?
April 10, 2006 7:56 PM Subscribe
OK. who's really the most oppressed group in the USA?
This post was deleted for the following reason: please define your question into an answerable form
Or maybe the Mafia. They've been having a tough time lately, if The Sopranos is to be believed.
It might also help if you defined "most", "group", and "really".
posted by mr_roboto at 8:02 PM on April 10, 2006
It might also help if you defined "most", "group", and "really".
posted by mr_roboto at 8:02 PM on April 10, 2006
Do maximum security prison inmates count?
posted by clarahamster at 8:03 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by clarahamster at 8:03 PM on April 10, 2006
clarahamster writes "Do maximum security prison inmates count?"
Oooooh! I like your thinking! How about death row inmates, specifically. Can't get more oppressed than having the state arrange your death, can you?
Alison writes "Children?"
This is a good one, too, but it's not like the government is formally organizing the mass murder of children. Death row inmates, though....
posted by mr_roboto at 8:05 PM on April 10, 2006
Oooooh! I like your thinking! How about death row inmates, specifically. Can't get more oppressed than having the state arrange your death, can you?
Alison writes "Children?"
This is a good one, too, but it's not like the government is formally organizing the mass murder of children. Death row inmates, though....
posted by mr_roboto at 8:05 PM on April 10, 2006
Tivo list pausers.
Seriously though, as far as noncriminals go, children are at the top of the list, followed by atheists, homosexuals, the mentally ill, and the very elderly.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 8:14 PM on April 10, 2006
Seriously though, as far as noncriminals go, children are at the top of the list, followed by atheists, homosexuals, the mentally ill, and the very elderly.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 8:14 PM on April 10, 2006
A recent study led to the very dramatic claim that atheists are the most despised group in the U.S. At best it could show that they were the most despised of the groups listed in the study. (I don't think they thought to include pedophiles, for example.) Though being able to be more widely reviled than gays or muslims is not insignificant. Also, I've seen previous studies that stated that more people would vote for a gay president than an atheist president. (Though the gays won by a small margin)
However, atheists are under-represented in prison, which would lead one to believe they are getting by okay. Some other groups, such as blacks, (and pedophiles) are over-represented, which would indicate they are having a harder time of it.
I understand that in many states ex-cons are not permitted to vote, yet must still pay taxes. (IE taxation without representation) Children need to wait at most 18 years before being permitted to do so.
posted by RobotHero at 8:19 PM on April 10, 2006
However, atheists are under-represented in prison, which would lead one to believe they are getting by okay. Some other groups, such as blacks, (and pedophiles) are over-represented, which would indicate they are having a harder time of it.
I understand that in many states ex-cons are not permitted to vote, yet must still pay taxes. (IE taxation without representation) Children need to wait at most 18 years before being permitted to do so.
posted by RobotHero at 8:19 PM on April 10, 2006
elderly, atheist, queer, black-hispanic-asian-native american, trans, handicapped, immigrant, disfigured, homeless people.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 8:25 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by gauchodaspampas at 8:25 PM on April 10, 2006
I'd say non-citizens. They have very few rights because of the entirely arbitrary distinction of national borders. I don't think most of the other examples are so arbitrary and/or so harsh. Both criminals and children have fewer rights because of a demonstrated inability to use rights responsibly. Atheists might be the most despised (though I'd question that), but I think relatively little of that translates into actual loss of rights. Non-citizens have very few of the rights, but nearly all of the responsibilities of citizens.
posted by scottreynen at 8:26 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by scottreynen at 8:26 PM on April 10, 2006
Fat black transsexual gay pedophile atheist Nazi bicycling polygamists.
That is, black women who become men through surgery and have sex with little boys, and who are atheist, and Nazi, and polygamist, and fat, and bicyclists. And who are circumsized.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:27 PM on April 10, 2006
That is, black women who become men through surgery and have sex with little boys, and who are atheist, and Nazi, and polygamist, and fat, and bicyclists. And who are circumsized.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:27 PM on April 10, 2006
I'd really have to say the mentally ill. So many facilities have closed down, budget cuts galore. The streets are full of people who shouldn't be expected to be able to care for themselves.
It's really tragic.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:27 PM on April 10, 2006
It's really tragic.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:27 PM on April 10, 2006
Uncompromising nudists. I will shop at Walmart in the manner I choose!
posted by LarryC at 8:28 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by LarryC at 8:28 PM on April 10, 2006
I think a good case could also be made for poor people. In many places, you have to have enough money to buy something to even use a toilet. I walked around NYC for a couple hours once trying to find a place to take a shit. Ended up in central park...*shudder*
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:28 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:28 PM on April 10, 2006
Elvis impersonators
posted by SwingingJohnson1968 at 8:38 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by SwingingJohnson1968 at 8:38 PM on April 10, 2006
Some more ideas...
-Transexuals
-Unattractive people (particularly women)
-"Poor white trash"
posted by availablelight at 8:48 PM on April 10, 2006
-Transexuals
-Unattractive people (particularly women)
-"Poor white trash"
posted by availablelight at 8:48 PM on April 10, 2006
The poor, especially people who live on Native American Reservations (such as Pine Ridge) where average life expectancy is below 55 years.
posted by Staggering Jack at 8:49 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by Staggering Jack at 8:49 PM on April 10, 2006
THe working poor, especially those lacking health insurance.
posted by acoutu at 8:51 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by acoutu at 8:51 PM on April 10, 2006
Political prisoners?
Animals?
The unborn?
Okay, that last one was facetious.
posted by box at 9:03 PM on April 10, 2006
Animals?
The unborn?
Okay, that last one was facetious.
posted by box at 9:03 PM on April 10, 2006
What's with all the "children" answers? Children are the most unoppressed group I can think of!
posted by jdroth at 9:05 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by jdroth at 9:05 PM on April 10, 2006
Children are the most unoppressed group I can think of!
Except for teenaged males who are often punished as adults although they don't have any of the privileges of adulthood.
posted by luneray at 9:14 PM on April 10, 2006
Except for teenaged males who are often punished as adults although they don't have any of the privileges of adulthood.
posted by luneray at 9:14 PM on April 10, 2006
Native Americans: we oppress plenty of groups within our culture but we oppress their entire culture.
posted by fshgrl at 9:21 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by fshgrl at 9:21 PM on April 10, 2006
chat-filter posters
posted by pyramid termite at 9:36 PM on April 10, 2006
posted by pyramid termite at 9:36 PM on April 10, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mr_roboto at 7:57 PM on April 10, 2006