The unjust or cruel exercise of power or authority, often by a dominant group or institution, to systematically exploit, marginalize, or subjugate individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status, resulting in deprivation, discrimination, and harm to the oppressed. Oppression can take various forms, including structural, cultural, and interpersonal oppression, and is often associated with systems of inequality and injustice.