Burdens are the foundations of ease and bitter things are the forerunners of pleasure.
–Rumi
Sometimes oppression comes from without when some people seek abusive power over others on any scale from a 2 person relationship to a dictatorial regime using fear and violence to achieve their ends.
Sometimes we oppress ourselves by having expectations that are beyond our power to reach or by giving into fear or desperate need for security.
The first defense and initial step to throwing off oppression is to recognize it and name it so that it becomes possible to see its limits and weaknesses.