Oppressiveisms™ Self-Assessment

DARE Test™

Not about judgment. About truth, clarity, power, and transformation.

Rae Sampson-McMillan, LCSW-R

“You ought not be ‘ism’ defined. Know your worth and positively define who you are and should be. You have the power to do so.”

— Rae Sampson-McMillan
01

Personal

Oppressiveisms™ are not abstract. They live in real lives, real bodies, real communities — including yours.

02

Clinical

Grounded in decades of frontline social work practice and how systems shape lives from the inside out.

03

Actionable

Moves you from self-discovery to acknowledgment to reflection to empowerment.

04

Inclusive

Every human life has been touched by at least one Oppressiveism™. No one sits outside this framework.

05

Yours

Complete honestly, privately, at your own pace. Your answers, your story, your power belong to you.

06

A Reflective Tool

A bridge between the systemic and the personal — for social workers, counselors, and human services professionals.

The Path

The DARE Test™ is the terrain you walk, not the terrain itself. Four waypoints, each one a return to yourself.

D

Discover

Look at the Oppressiveisms™ Social Impact Model. Identify which ones have touched your life — directly or indirectly.

  • Which Oppressiveisms™ from the Social Impact Model have you personally experienced?
  • Which have you witnessed in the lives of people close to you?
  • Which have shaped your access to healthcare, education, employment, housing, or justice?
  • Which have you never had to think about — and what does that tell you?
A

Acknowledge

Name your experience honestly and without judgment. Acknowledgment is not weakness — it is the first act of power.

  • Can you name the specific Oppressiveism™ that impacted you — by its proper name?
  • Have you ever minimized, dismissed, or been told to dismiss your own experience?
  • What would it mean to fully acknowledge what you have experienced — to yourself and to others?
  • Is there an Oppressiveism™ you benefit from that you have not yet fully acknowledged?
R

Reflect

Go deeper. Examine how Oppressiveisms™ have shaped your beliefs, your choices, your self-perception, and your perception of others.

  • How has your experience with Oppressiveisms™ shaped the way you see yourself?
  • How has it shaped the way you see others who are different from you?
  • Are there any Oppressiveisms™ mindsets you have internalized — beliefs planted by systems of oppression?
  • How have Oppressiveisms™ affected your mental health, your relationships, or your sense of belonging?
E

Empower

Reclaim your voice, your worth, your power. You are not defined by any Oppressiveism™. You define yourself.

  • What is one Oppressiveism™ you are committed to dismantling — in yourself, your community, or your professional practice?
  • What strengths, values, and resources do you bring to that work?
  • What does equality look like for you — personally and collectively?
  • How will you use your voice, position, and power to contribute to the collective dismantling of Oppressiveisms™?

Please Note

The Oppressiveisms™ Social Impact Model is not exhaustive. Your experience of systemic oppression is unique to you — and there may be systems, institutions, or impacts that have shaped your life that are not yet named. You are warmly encouraged to add them.

Trauma-Informed Note

Some questions in the DARE Test™ may bring forward painful memories, experiences, or emotions. Move through this reflection at your own pace, and reach out to a trusted person or professional if needed.

Validation Status

The DARE Test™ is a qualitative self-reflection and educational tool; it is not a diagnostic or clinically validated instrument.

Using These Materials

The DARE Test™ and the Oppressiveisms™ Social Impact Model are available for use in training, supervision, education, and practice settings. For training materials, workshops, or permission to use, please get in touch.