Dismantling Kyriarchy - an intersectional analysis of anti-oppression work within Occupy Wall Street

Abstract: This thesis investigates how and in which way Occupy Wall Street (OWS) in New York City addresses issues of racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism and cissexism within the movement. Through a two week field study including six semi-structured interviews with key informants and participant observation, an intersectional analysis was deployed to examine the organizing structure. The purpose was to see what methods or strategies were utilized in the internal anti-oppression work and how they were successful or not in this work. Informants reported oppressive structures and unchallenged white middle-class privilege being reproduced. Historically marginalized groups were underrepresented and experienced difficulties in making their voices heard through the horizontal consensus process due to a lack of structure and accountability. Examples of strategies and methods in use to counter these problems were; progressive stack, anti-oppression trainings, identity-based caucuses and a Safer Spaces working group, all to varying levels of success. The most effective strategy was depicted through the effort called education through practice; to bring anti-oppression education in to everyday work rather than as singular events, and in this way slowly build a culture of anti-oppression.