Power Biases Social Work

Words: 1897
Pages: 8
Open Document
Social biases, power and privilege are concepts that are extremely important terms that social workers come face to face with, on a daily basis. Therefore, it is of upmost importance that social workers obtain a substantial understanding of these terms, as it will assist them greatly when approaching their clients and in particular, clients that are from a diverse background. This will be further illustrated through defining each of the terms and how they are interrelated, examining how the profession of social work itself comes from a place of white power and privilege and may affect the interaction between social workers and diverse clients, analysing the ways in which the social biases of social workers can differ from those of their clients …show more content…
Author Karen Keifer argues that people with lighter skin tend to hold more privilege and power than people with darker skin. In order to further Illustrate this, Keifer uses the example of how people with lighter skin can easily access and purchase books and magazines, featuring people of their complexion, whereas this is not the same for people with darker skin. This example highlights the ways in which social biases can be formed around particular cultures and races in relation to power and privilege. It is important for social workers to be aware of these social biases, because when working with diverse cultures, it is likely that many could have experienced oppression, social exclusion and bullying as a result of these social biases that perceive a particular race as privileged and others not so privileged. In addition, it is also important for social workers to understand how the profession of social work itself comes from a place of privilege and power as it was established on the basis of white customs and practices. This point is further demonstrated in an article by Maggie Walter’s, who argues that the predominance of whiteness in Australian social work is a crucial issue for both the profession and the practitioners within this area, specifically when engaging in practices related to Indigenous Australians and other diverse cultures. Moreover, a major issue that Walters recognises in relation to the whiteness of social work, is the invisibility of this whiteness in social work, due to the fact that white practices have become so deeply rooted and normalised in
Show More

Related Documents: Power Biases Social Work

The Importance Of Privilege In Social Work Practice

responded critical analyse why is it important to unpack our prejudices and biases when working with clients in social work practice. Social work is a practice grounded in the core values of service, social justice, competence, the importance of human relationships, integrity, dignity and worth of every person (Code Of Ethics, 2016). To begin a capable social worker needs to understand the entire spectrum of social work activity to be effective in working with individuals, families, agencies, organisation…

Words 446 - Pages 2

Summary Of Passing By Nella Larsen

on a deeply personal journey of exploration. Through the diverse stories that we have encountered, spanning a multitude of cultures and perspectives, we are compelled to examine our own cultural rules and biases. These narratives act as reflective mirrors, urging us to confront the implicit biases that often shape our understanding of the world around us. In parallel, our academic experiences encourage self-reflection, challenging us not only to analyze the texts themselves, but also to reflect on…

Words 1432 - Pages 6

Community-Based Participatory Reflective Practice

into the principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), it was established that health issues are not simple, and their solutions require several facets, such as political, social, and biomedical dimensions,1,3 to make it work. Therefore, as researchers develop support for equitable partnership and work toward improvement of health, several essential elements of reflective practices were involved. These elements are no one-size-fits-all but a unique set of experiences involving the researcher…

Words 571 - Pages 3

Examples Of Racism In Canada

It is no secret that racism has run Canadian society, and most other countries, in its legislative, justice and policing functions. Racism has evolved from outright slavery, to a race based social hierarchy, to racist policing practices and finally, to codified forms of racism that run the fundamental functions of Canada. The aforementioned example demonstrates how, even in a progressive and educated society, racism can re-establish itself in an aggressive, and yet accepted, form. This is because…

Words 1579 - Pages 7

Surgeon's Journey Of Resilience Research Paper

A Surgeon's Journey of Resilience, Advocacy, and Social Transformation. In the vast expanse of the medical field, amidst the flurry of surgical procedures and patient consultations, a singular narrative transcends the routine: a narrative of resilience, advocacy, and social transformation. Our interviewee emerges as a beacon of change, navigating the turbulent waters of prejudice and inequality to reshape the very fabric of healthcare and societal norms. From her humble beginnings, marked by financial…

Words 2143 - Pages 9

To Kill A Mockingbird Persuasive Essay

racism in society is noticeable through disparities in access to resources, opportunities, and justice, necessitating comprehensive efforts towards dismantling racial biases and fostering genuine equality. It created biased actions towards the system as shown in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. We can also argue that the social issues portrayed in “To Kill a Mockingbird” continue to exert a profound influence on modern day racism,…

Words 568 - Pages 3

Wrongful Convictions Research Paper

system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability and order. From a functionalist perspective, wrongful convictions can be seen as a breakdown in the criminal justice system's ability to function effectively. When innocent individuals are wrongly accused and convicted of crimes, it not only disrupts their lives, but also undermines the credibility of the justice system as a whole. This can lead to mistrust in institutions and a loss of social cohesion.…

Words 523 - Pages 3

Psychosocial Assessment: Holosko, Dulmus And Sowers

Psychosocial Assessment Holosko, Dulmus, and Sowers define the psychosocial assessment as clients interactions with their environment, adaptive functioning, the clients past and current functioning ability and obstacles in the client's life (2013). Paula is a Cortez is described as a 43-year-old Latina woman, who is infected and has Hepatitis C, and struggles with mental health as a result of her being diagnosed as having bipolar disorder with paranoid tendencies (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014)…

Words 1368 - Pages 6

Effective Mentoring Strategies

“the nature of action, experience, and their conditions as part of their methodological framework" (Carspecken, 1996, p. 26). Carspecken’s critical qualitative research enables one to critically analyze a process and come up with a well-articulated social theory. This study will therefore involve five stages of Carspecken’s critical qualitative research (Carspecken, 1996) that are preceded by preliminary activities…

Words 2963 - Pages 12

What Are Gender Roles In Julia Alvarez's In The Time Of The Butterflies

shows the Mirabal sister’s power as they challenge gender limitations set on them by the patriarchal culture in the Dominican Republic to induce women not to be afraid to assert that part of themselves. The most significant role the Mirabal sisters undertook were as revolutionary women’s that further challenged gender limitations as they, being women, spoke up instead of being silent. These revolutionary women: Minerva, Patricia, and Maria Teresa, showed their power by commencing the revolution…

Words 1055 - Pages 5