Self-respect and The Obligation to Resist Oppression

In this paper, I will argue against the position of Carol Hay, who asserts that the oppressed have an obligation against oppression and that the bare minimum of this obligation is to resist internally. I will demonstrate that resisting internally leaves space for the oppressed to affirm the oppressors' false beliefs. Affirming the oppressor's false belief causes the oppressed person to disrespect themself. In order to understand why we must first understand what things contribute to our self-respect. Our ability to respect ourselves depends on many factors, but I will focus on two specifically. The first is our internal/self-image; this is how we see ourselves. The second is our external image; this is how we think people see us. One way we can disrespect ourselves is by causing conflict between these two elements, which undermines our self-respect. Hay's account is grounded on the oppressed person respecting themself. Therefore, if an oppressed person can disrespect themself while meeting the bare requirements of the duty to resist oppression, then we need to reconsider the bare minimum of the obligation to resist oppression.