How Diagnosis Obscures Systemic Oppression

Abstract This article dissects how the practice of diagnosis obscures systemic oppression by conceptualizing mental disorder as individual pathology, not the result of systemic factors. First, I discuss positivism as theoretical basis of diagnosis and how diagnosis perpetuates oppression by labeling individual reactions by people as disordered and ignoring systemic factors. Next, I examine historical precedent and the need for compensation as reasons for diagnosing. I conclude the article by discussing alternative diagnostic frameworks and with a case study showcasing a critical approach to diagnosis.