Course Options | Systems of Power

The theme of Systems of Power¹ explores the structures  the have the capacity  to control circumstances within economic, political and social-cultural contexts. According to the CDE's Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, educators can can consider taking one system of power (like patriarchy or sexism) and provide various perspectives across ethnic groups to discuss both the struggles and resistance that come with being entangled and impacted by these systems of power.  Systems of power can be analyzed using the "four I's of Oppression" (ideological, institutional, interpersonal and internalized) in order to further analyze how to define and examine examples of how these systems are controlled by those in power and go on to determine how society is organized and functions.

Lessons that illustrate the theme of Systems of Power can address the following questions: 

1. What is the relationship between the individual and society? 
2. How does society divide people into groups? 
3. What is the relationship between individual power and collective power? 
4. How do social systems influence the choices we make? 
5. What are the implications for a society when it categorizes people into a social hierarchy?

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