It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Oppression. (Discuss)

An Oppressor is one who crushes or burdens by abuse of power or authority OR one who burdens spiritually or mentally : weighs heavily upon. Image File history File links Merge-arrows. ... Oppression is the negative outcome experienced by people targeted by the arbitrary and cruel exercise of power in a society or social group. ...

Paulo Freire's 'pedagogy of the oppressed' (1970) is devoted to empowering the oppressed (impoverished Central American peons) by a variety of methods including self-directed, appropriate education. He also refers to the false consciousness of the oppressor, and emphasizes the need to lead the oppressor to see how 'reification' dehumanizes the oppressor as well as the oppressed. Freire's principal concern lies with the social transformation of Central American political oligarchies by educating both the oppressors and the oppressed through critical self-reflection ('conscientisation'). False consciousness is the Engelsist hypothesis that material and institutional processes in capitalist society mislead the proletariat — and perhaps the other classes — over the nature of capitalism. ...