In regards to societal oppression, however, it may manifest, one hears two main suffixes of or relating to that oppression: -ism and –phobia. The two are generally used interchangeably in conversation, which is accurate, but here’s the scoop if you’ve ever wondered why there is more than one suffix to describe nearly the same thing in the first place.
The suffix “-ism” and “-phobia” go hand in hand, and overlap; often, one is a precursor or lead-in to the creation as well as the institution of the second in a given lexicon. Generally, something is described as a “-phobia” before it is solidified into the activist (or general) lexicon as an “-ism.” A lot of the time, “-phobias” are sub-categories of what we know to be “-isms.” Femme-phobia, for example, refers to the unique subjugation feminine-identified and feminine-presenting people face within queer communities and falls under the larger, better-known categorical oppression that is Cissexism. (Cissexism is the “-ism” used to describe prioritization of man/woman binaries within the culture at large and masculine/feminine binaries on smaller scales, such as what sometimes happens within queer communities). Cissexism, too, along with Heterosexism, are part of the larger categorical oppression probably known best as “Sexism.”
Another example is of the difference between, overlap, and transition from one to the other is Weightism (sometimes referred to as Size-ism). Weightism describes one way the cultural phenomenon of body policing manifests: oppression of fat folks. Reclamation of the word and identity “Fat” is gaining traction and visibility within and outside of social justice movements; the movement states the term “fat” is not an insult (even if someone attempts to use it as one), merely a modifier like any other. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes; larger bodies have a lot of assumptions made about them by others who fat-shame. The term fatphobia, as a descriptor, wasn’t enough to encompass the extreme extent of nuances expressed when culture, pop culture, media representation, and individuals engage in fat shaming, and the fear or hatred demonstrated towards larger body types. So, “Weightism” came to be that more comprehensive description, as weightism goes far beyond simply fat shaming.
So, what exactly does all that jargon mean? It can be broken down at a basic level into this:
“–phobias” are usually expressed or describing feelings and behavior by individuals.
“–isms” are usually expressed or describing feelings and behavior by collectives.
Needless to say, behavior relating to those “-isms” and “-phobias” aren’t cool. Ever, no matter what words are used to describe it.
