Power is one aspect of social work practice that needs to be considered in reflecting on any situation or action. Reflection focused on anti-oppressive practice is concerned with the social worker’s understanding of the institutions of power and his or her understanding of power, and his or her understanding of identity as being constructed within a society that creates interlocking oppressions. Power is seen as ‘a social relation that may open up or close off opportunities for individuals or social groups’ (Tew,2002: 165) where ‘opportunity’ may involve anything from accessing resources and social or economic participation, through to developing personal identities and capabilities, expressing needs, and feelings and renegotiating. Power Dimensions below are relevant to our case. Ethnicity (Cultural deficitism), There is a common view that prevails that 'immigrants’ try to adhere to cultural patterns and beliefs which are …show more content…
For example, reproductive roles can be emphasized; resulting in high birth rates and it can interfere with a woman’s autonomy, limiting her decision making power and use of financial resources. Women are forced to subdue to the husband regardless of whether she is experiencing abuse. Gender differences are subject to a hierarchy of value and have led to gender disparities and life choices to specific groups of people. There are socially constructed gender hierarchy which leads to an unequal division of power and prestige between men and women. Connell’s works are, according to Giddens, modern classics that integrate masculinity and patriarchy into an umbrella theory on gender relations and gender inequalities. Male social power creates a social structure that leads to female subordination (Connell 1987) and conceptions of masculinity and femininity lead to continued male dominance reproduced through socialisation of both men and
Rational for the observations The rational for using these observations retrospectively is to make sense of the whole person Amy’s life history, looking over her notes, why had she not engaged historically? Why the resistance? I wanted to understand how and why this was happening not just respond to the immediate crisis, rehouse and decontaminate her home for the behavioural pattern to be repeated. This method allowed me to explore theories of human growth and development and evaluate them with criticality (Monette et. 2014).
Social work skills, theoretical knowledge and values that has been learnt and obtained through both of my placements has and will continue to be a fundamental component of my emerging social work identity. Work being undertaken, whether that being in a government or non-government organisation, has proven to be at times difficult, as often organisations which state that they provide diversity, social justice and inclusive practice are restricted by funding constraints, hierarchical structures and rigid polices. Personally having had two non-government placements, it has been difficult to be able to first-hand make these comparisons. However, through speaking with peers in my PSAG group and through government agency visits conducted on my previous and current placement, it has reinforced that even though we as social workers are working with such rigid and stricken policies, by using a wide range of practice skills and theoretical knowledge that has been acquired throughout my two
My understanding of Human Services is to help people who need additional help and guidence to move forward with their life. Sometimes people need help with external problems such as the loss of a job, the need for food or housing or for help getting out of a dangerous situation or mental and physical health crisis. The Human Services practitioner is a professional who acts as an agent to assist and or empower individulas, groups, families and communities to help them function more effectivly in all areas of life and improve living condition. Human Service professional will always advocate for their clients and will never give up on them and make sure to strive for the clients well being as long as the client want to change.
In a patriarchy society where males are the narrators and voices being heard, one is rarely educated on women struggles. In the Western world gender is a construct made to keep one group superior and the other inferior. Gender concerns what it means to be women or men in society. The traditional notion of gender is acknowledged to not be defined the same all over the world. The general concept of gender is challenged
My individual standards and beliefs impact reliably my involvement to work in the health as well as social care background. For my individual input to the care of individuals undergoing significant life occasions, I would give prominence to the circumstance that I still believe to mark a perhaps superior involvement since I have an inadequate knowledge so far. Nonetheless, I have continuously been anxious with the acceptable completion of my proficient responsibilities as well as the operational assistance and help being delivered to individuals suffering challenging and substantial life’ occasions. Moreover, my work in the health and social care environment was a significant affair for me since it added to my professional as well as personal advancement. In this respect, my role encompassed fundamentals of both wellbeing and social care, though I accomplished utilities of a health care professional principally.
First of all, I had the opportunity to interview Kim Bartells who’s a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) in Michealsen Health Center and learn more about her role as a social work. Before I started interviewing Kim, I asked her if it was alright with her if I recorded the conversation and she said it was fine with it. I started the interview with asking what type of population Michealsen Health Center serves and she told me it was mostly elderly people. Kim works in a “Microlevel intervention involves working with individuals--- separately, in families, or in small groups---to facilitate change in individual behavior or in relationship” (DuBois and Miley 69). This types of individuals she is working with are elderly residents “who utilize long-term care experience a combination of physical or cognitive limitation that require some level of assistance in activities of daily living” (DuBois and Miley 314-315) and their families as well.
This week I met with a social worker at Cherry Health which is located a few blocks from Heart of the City. When I met with the social worker we did a role playing exercise. She played a client that was experiencing depression and sadness. In addition, she role played as a client that she typically work with at the agency and I role played as the therapist. I enjoyed the role play because I was able to receive feedback about my progress.
a. What social work values are most central to you? How should they be incorporated into social policies? The social work values that are most central to me include service to humanity, social justice, human dignity and worth, integrity, and competence. Most importantly, the value of services to humanity is central to me and the foundation for the additional social work values that are central to me because it reflects the importance of helping others and having the ability to put others’ needs before my own, which I feel is the basis for effectively practicing social work.
Portfolio Part B: Reflection on the overall learning within the module Prior to starting this course the MA Social Work course and the PPSWP module I felt very confident in the aspects of communicating effectively and working with a diverse range of people, and after the reading the professional capabilities framework I believe that I hold the same personal values which is expected of a social worker. The PCF6 talks about the importance of critical reflection and reflective practice explaining that it helps improve accountability, professional development and helps to you understand your own tacit knowledge and gain new knowledge, which improves outcomes and experiences for social workers. (Capabilities within the PCF, 2016) For this reflection
Male Dominance as a Consequence of a Patriarchal Society ¨You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have,¨ according to Sarah Williams. This situation embodies that of Mrs. Mallard. In ¨The Story of An Hour¨ by Kate Chopin an analysis of diction reveals male dominance as a consequence of the patriarchy. Male dominance is an unintended consequence that shows up when one looks closer at the beginning of the story.
The career that I am considering as a future possibility is the clinical social worker. Clinical social work is a specialty practice area of social work which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness, emotional, and other behavioral disturbances. These practices can happen individually, in a group and/or in family therapy, which is common treatment styles. Social workers that provide these services are required to be licensed or certified at the clinical level in their state of practice. To become a licensed clinical social worker student who did not earn a bachelors of social work, must complete a traditional masters of a social work program that typically takes two to four years depending on whether a student attends full-time or part-time.
Anti-oppressive practice focuses on the structural inequalities and places the blame that service users internalize on the structures and systems themselves (Ajandi, 2018). Humanistic and social justice values and ideas shape anti-oppressive practice (Healy, 2015). They address inequalities that affect opportunities of service users, due to the interlocking of social relations and oppression (Burke & Harrison, 2002). AOP aims to identify oppressions and define ways in which social workers can attempt to become anti-oppressive, avoid discomfort, and end oppression to service users (Strega, 2007). It highlights mutual involvement between the social worker and the service user, challenging forms of oppression and inequalities (Burke & Harrison, 2002), and presents the idea that service users do not occupy a “single identity”, but instead have interlocking oppressions that work together to put clients at a social disadvantage (Strega, 2007).
Social workers understand that, because of difference, a person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim. Social workers also understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values, including social, economic, political, and cultural exclusions, may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create privilege and power (2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards). (2015, July 15). My personal and
For helpers working in rural areas and small communities, managing multiple relationships can be a difficult task. The NASW Code of Ethics states that helpers “should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client.” (Corey & Corey, 2014) Often times, there are only a few helpers within a small community. This makes efforts to refrain from having multiple relationships very difficult.
3 experiences In this assignment, I will be explaining about three experiences and with a brief description of how I plan to integrate each with my overall themes. I will be thinking in terms of my core values, of why do I think those experiences strike a chord with me. What about these experiences makes you want to hold onto the lessons you have learned through them and take them with you into life? My thesis is through doing a 450-hour senior level practicum at Noah’s Ark and building relationships with others in Uganda, I have begun to solidify what I am most passionate about in Social Work: advocating for vulnerable children.