Master suppression techniques are manners of offensive discrimination, i.e. repeated unfair and negative actions towards one or several individuals in which the person(s) exposed are excluded from the working community.
Offensive treatment and behavior, and hence master suppression techniques, are covered by the requirement for systematic work environment management (Organisatorisk och social arbetsmiljö, AFS 2015:4 Organizational and Social Work Environment), AFS 2015: 4).
Personally, I have a strong dislike for people who use master suppression techniques to reduce and exclude others.
I love feedback and grow by it but bullying and using master suppression techniques isn’t feedback – it’s just being mean and unprofessional.
It’s important not to let those with low self-esteem and high egos bring you down to their own lowest level. Take pride in yourself and your accomplishments, making the best of what you have and what you know. You are much bigger than they are.
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(Source: Karolinska Institutet)
Master suppression techniques and counter strategies!
Making invisible
This suppression technique is about being belittled and being communicated to as if you don’t matter or that what you do or say is not important in the context. The purpose of this technique is to make you feel insecure, meaningless and less important.
The making invisible suppression technique can be done openly and directly, for example, by not introducing you to others in a group. Making invisible can also occur indirectly and subtly, e.g. by not paying attention when you speak or give a presentation and by not showing interest or ask questions when your talk is over.
The purpose of this technique is to make you feel insecure, meaningless and less important.
Counter strategy
A counter strategy for the making invisible suppression technique is to take up space. If you are exposed to this technique, it is important to try to act immediately and calmly show that you do not accept the way you are being treated. If a person does not listen to your presentation, explain that it is important for you that everyone listens to what you have to say.
Ridiculing
The ridiculing suppression technique is characterized by people being mocked or laughed to scorn because of attributes or characteristics ascribed to their gender. Perhaps you have heard women being resembled animals, such as giddy geese or stupid cows. Or when women are said to be extra sensitive or to slander and gossip.
There are numerous similar labels used to describe women but not nearly as many to ridicule men’s behavior or reactions. Sometimes ridiculing includes infantilizing, e.g. being called ”baby”, “sweetheart” or “honey”. The ridiculing technique is meant to be fun and playful, but is not as it happens at your expense.
The ridiculing technique is meant to be fun and playful, but is not as it happens at your expense.
Counter strategy
A counter strategy to deal with the ridiculing suppression technique is to question the remarks to the person or persons who expressed them. Do not let the joke pass without commenting or questioning them and do not laugh!
Withholding information
When a group withholds information or addresses important issues when certain individuals are not present, this master suppression technique is exercised.
Making decisions in informal places inaccessible to some people, for example in the locker room after training. This kind of technique may be demonstrated by, e.g. men automatically turning to other men, and women not accessing meeting notes, minutes, agendas etc. When it is time for the decision-making it may be too late to comment.
Men automatically turning to other men, and women not accessing meeting notes, minutes, agendas etc.
Counter strategy
The counter strategy is to demand the cards on the table and to clearly point out that no decisions are to be taken without your involvement. It is not you about you being unable to obtain information, but rather someone trying to suppress you by withholding it. Demand transparency through the entire decision-making process.
Double punishment
Double punishment means that no matter what you do it is wrong, simply an impossible equation. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t! This technique is often used against groups we prejudice. It may be that you are considered too forward or pushy when you are spontaneous or, uncertain when you are thoughtful or that you are expected to work late and at the same time have time to pick up the children early in the preschool.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t!
Counter strategy
To counter this master suppression technique, you should consider and decide on what is important to you and what you prioritize right now. Secondly, make your priorities clear to others. It is about breaking the pattern and making sure you cannot be everywhere and do everything at the same time.
Blame and shame
Blame and shame is closely related to double punishment and involves you being held responsible for something that you are not. It can be described as the result of being exposed to the previous four master suppression techniques. It makes you feel that everything is your fault and that it is something wrong with you. For example, parents may feel guilt for not being able to combine family and career as expected. In other words, blame and shame is a master suppression technique that is often perceived as coming from ”yourself”.
You being held responsible for something that you are not.
Counter strategy
A counter strategy is primarily to try to intellectualize your own feelings of blaming and shaming and identify where they come from. Try to reflect on a situation where these feelings emerged, what really happened and what role did the people around you play? Was there anything they said or did that made you feel guilty and shameful? And why did they do that? Are there any standards or preconceived expectations in your workplace that make you feel the way you do? Are your feelings influenced by social norms or are they an expression of a gender system?