Social Service or Social Change? Who Benefits From Your Work?
This term describes the economic structure in the United States where the top 1% controls a significant portion of wealth, leaving the majority struggling for resources.
What is the economic pyramid?
Social work is critiqued as a practice for in it's nature being ____. (top-down or bottom-up)
What is top-down?
A theoretical approach that emphasizes action to address power imbalances and promote egalitarianism by challenging existing power structures and acknowledging one’s own privilege.
What is Anti-Oppressive Practice?
An individual from an agent group who rejects the dominant ideology and takes action out of a belief that eliminating oppression will benefit both agents and targets of oppression.
What is "an ally"?
A multi-faceted and multidimensional form of oppression that is widely prevalent in many spheres and institutions of social life.
What is "racism"?
This term refers to individual success within a capitalist system.
What is "getting ahead"?
Anti-oppressive social work emerged in the response to these groups.
Who are minority groups? (e.g., POC, disabled)
The historically dominant/prefered model used in the field of mental health
What is the Medical Model?
Ability to take responsibility for one’s own learning; acknowledge unearned privilege; and the willingness to be confronted, consider change, and commit to action. They are people willing to take risks despite fear.
What are "the main characteristics of an ally"?
Covert forms of racism
What are "micro aggressions"?
Kivel argues that this primary goal of social service work should be prioritized to foster social change.
What is helping people get together?
These examples of oppression were largely left out in social work before and during the 1970's.
What are sexism, racism, ableism?
The language used by people in power that was constructed to reflect the culture and values of that same group.
What is dominant discourse?
A self-reflective process that examines the contradictions between a Social Worker's accepted values and lived experience.
What is "a Social Workers first step to create social change and promote social justice"?
A system of domination that denies individuals dignity, human rights, social resources and power
What is "oppression"?
This term refers to the network of jobs that mediate between the ruling class and the lower classes, allowing the ruling class to maintain power without direct involvement.
What is the "buffer zone"?
Anti-oppressive social workers work to avoid this kind of trap, in which the service worker aims to "teach" the user about the oppression they are experiencing.
Relationships between providers and clients that emphasize trust, collaboration, education, power sharing, and equity.
What are “working relationships”?
Allies as never becoming culturally competent.
What is "no, they do not. Allies must realize that the pursuit of critical consciousness is lifelong. A more encompassing term would be 'cultural humility.'"
Three ways anti-racism and anti-oppression translate into mental health practice.
1. Empowerment 2. Education 3. Building Alliances
4. Advocacy / Social Justice 5. Reflexivity
6. Language 7. Alternative Healing Strategies
This term refers to the process by which community leaders' interests are aligned with external organizations, often leading them to prioritize those organizations' goals over the needs of their communities.
What is "co-optation"?
The way social workers can overcome our false sense of 'neutrality' and address discomfort.
What is admitting we have failed to be anti-oppressive as a practice and embracing discomfort?
A holistic way of focusing on beneficial personal, community, and social supports rather than deficits.
What is a “strength-based” approach?
The most painful aspect of racism (per Spencer, 2008).
What is "the invalidation of racism"?
___% of minorities in Canada perceive they have experienced discrimination due to race and ethnicity (Can be a ballpark percentage).
What is "81%"