UK Master of Social Work (MSW) Comprehensive Practice Exam

The Five Faces of Oppression, as conceptualized by Iris Marion Young, identify various forms through which systemic injustices manifest in society. These include exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence.

Elitism, while it may describe a societal phenomenon where a select group holds power and privilege, is not classified as one of the core faces of oppression in Young's framework. The focus is specifically on the mechanisms that perpetuate inequities and disenfranchisement, which are clearly outlined in the other options.

Exploitation refers to the unfair treatment of individuals in economic systems, especially where labor is concerned. Marginalization addresses the ways certain groups are pushed to the edges of society and often denied access to necessary resources and opportunities. Powerlessness highlights a lack of autonomy or control over one’s life and circumstances, often resulting from systemic barriers. These concepts represent distinct structures of oppression impacting how individuals and groups experience inequality.

Choosing elitism as not being among the five faces reflects an understanding that while it may relate to power dynamics in society, it does not directly correspond with the established categories that critique mechanisms of oppression in a structural context.