DOMINANT AND

SUBORDINATE

Dominant and Subordinate

Deadrea J. Miller
Karen Watkins, Ph.D., LMSW
Georgia State University

DOMINANT AND
SUBORDINATE

Abstract
Dominant and Subordinate groups have existed since the beginning of time. It has progressed
with time through power, influence, money, social status and position. This critical thinking
assignment and cultural exploration help to identify which groups are unique, operational and
prevalent to a daily walk and discovering oneself in society. The self-assessment reveals the
power and control of the dominant groups and the realignment and submission of the subordinate
group to the governing entity. Recognition of social identity and intergroup relations are
important in discovering whether individuals can place group membership in one, the other or
concurrent. Being a part of either group affects the output to society and creates multiple faces
good, bad or indifferent. The self-assessment also provided understanding as to which group is
significant to one's social development, acceptance, expectation, and residence for what is
healthy for everyday living and a possible quest for immersion.
Introduction
Everyone wants to be a part, accepted and treated equally to the benefits of this world as it gives
meaning and purpose for living. Dominant and Subordinate groups are a part of the acceptance
and discriminatory processes on how society measure groups, privilege, service, status, and
living conditions in life. Dr. Martin Luther (1968), stated, I have a dream that my four little
children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but
by the content of their character. Dr. Kings quote gives an understanding of the existence of
five faces of oppression. Iris Young (2004), defines the five faces of oppression as violence,
exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, and cultural imperialism. These harsh measures
serve as the rite of passage to enforce and evolve dominant and subordinate groups and
discriminatory behaviors throughout the nation. This paper identifies the social work candidate
as having a role in both groups.
Dominant Group Membership
As an individual, the dominant groups associated with personal nature defines as U.S. citizen,
English-speaking, heterosexual, cisgender, educated, Christian religion, military and mid-level
management professional occupations, and secret societies and civic organizations. The
subordinates to these power groups are the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Asexual, second
language individuals, the transgender, the high school or less educated, any religion outside the
dominant Pentecostal religion, the working poor and below the poverty line, and non-acceptance
members to secret societies or civic organizations.
As a member of the dominant group, it is hard to embrace others outside the group. There is an
apparent acceptance of the dominant group as one has established the right and presence to the
membership. The membership is without fail with advantage and positioning. However, in the
dominant group, one has the voice of power to control other groups and that voice can make or
break members of the group as well as individuals outside the group. The dominant group
became a common thread of personal operations, and the benefits and cost were both rewarding
and as double edge sword. Of the dominant groups listed, the military, corporate and ecclesiastic
groups dominated personal lifestyle and influenced the force, structure, and existence to the

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SUBORDINATE

groups. The forms of military powers constructed distinctive patterns of demands whereas
corporate afforded executive privileges and positionality to an inner circle. The ecclesiastical, the
enforcers of strict membership and the power to excommunicate non-complying members. An
obvious example of a dominant group within a dominant group.
Subordinate Group Membership
As a subordinate group private membership identifies as African-American, woman, over 40,
PTSD disability, excommunicated church member, divorced and single parent. The dominant
group of these subservient powers is the White American, male; the 30s to late 40s group, nondisabled, non-compliance or less privileged church member and married heterosexual family.
The membership shares a different perspective as the group does not have the power, influence
or control, and its composite tends to lessen respect for certain entitlements, rights, privileges,
equities, and positionality. The belonging of such group yields disadvantages and disparities and
depletes afforded opportunities. Most of the membership is involuntary and cannot be reverse no
matter of the efforts to sponge positioning within the society.

Self-Assessment of Dominant-Subordinate Relations

The most important takeaways from the dominant and subordinate groups exploration are the
impact and affect each group has on society. Both groups control the attitudes, behaviors, and
responses whether mild or hostile. Race can never be eliminated from the equation as it has
many forms of authenticity indoctrinate group rules. In the dominant group, power is the catalyst
for control, change, and conflict. This assignment added overall understanding of both dominant
and subordinate groups as it impedes relationships and alteration.
The experiences with the two of the mention groups came at an early in grammar school as the
exclusion of the popular group or club and involuntarily committed to the unpopular group. Such
exclusion created regression and withdrawals subordinate community. Of the noted subordinated
groups, the church, divorced, single parent and disability limited a person powerless. The
negative socialization and religious beliefs forced victimization. The dominant group controlled
with doctrine to stay in a violent marriage, endure spousal abuse, accepts forgiveness and forbids
for divorce. However, the power of the tradition recognizes the male as the head of the marriage
and divorce leads to the excommunication of its members. Many women of faith face this type of
oppression within the church.
As a subordinate of the described abuse, it forced the motivation to advocate for policy changes
for oneself as well as for other dealing with church rules, persecutions and personal safety. The
involvement in several social advocacy programs which looks at church leaders roles and
responsibilities members safety provides rescue and restoration for the total well-being of an
individual.
Lastly, the issues which continue to raised questions as who determines the power, descriptions,
and positioning in these groups? Why are the dominant and subordinate groups relevant to the

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SUBORDINATE

positioning of the nation? Finally, what is the likelihood that dominant and subordinate rules of
engagement will ever change?
Overall, this course has developed skills to necessitate cultural knowledge of dominant and
subordinate groups, and the positive and negative sides of each group. The dominant group will
continue to overshadow, divide and distributed what is assumed right and privilege to everyone.
The subordinate must deliver themselves from the shadows of the dominant and become active
participants in business, finance, politics, religion, labor, and people; regardless of placement.
There continue to remain the issues of differences with dominant group's and victimizations of
the society as a whole. As a social worker, the recognition of self-identity, group identity,
privileged, and unprivileged, oppressed and disadvantaged and advocacy is an effective start and
a part of the change process to service various groups and ethnicities.

DOMINANT AND
SUBORDINATE

References Cited:
King, M. L. (1968, August 23). I Have a Dream Speech. Retrieved from
www.americanrhetoric.com:
http://www.americanrhetric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
Young, I. M. (2014). The Five Faces of Oppression. In I. M. Young, The Five Faces of
Oppression (pp. 3-22). Albany, New York: State of New York Press.