A course at Indiana University (IU) has sparked controversy for categorizing students as inherently "oppressors" or "oppressed" based on characteristics like race, sex, and religion. The course, "Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society," aims to explore the experiences of diverse groups, but its methodology has drawn criticism.

As reported by The Free Beacon, the course instructor, Colleen Rose, asks students to reflect on their "subordinate" and "dominant" identities. A provided chart defines "dominant groups" – including heterosexuals, White individuals, able-bodied people, Christians, and men – as those responsible for "social oppression" against "subordinate groups" such as LGBTQ individuals, women, and religious and ethnic minorities.

One student expressed concern to The Free Beacon, stating they felt compelled to "make something up" to complete an assignment and felt penalized for their identity. The student felt the exercise contradicted the course's stated goal of understanding and respecting diverse identities.

This course, offered by IU's School of Social Work, fulfills credit requirements for social and historical studies. The university has not yet commented on the controversy. This incident follows other recent debates surrounding identity-focused curricula, including a course at Princeton University exploring topics like "sex work" and "queer spaces."