Social Service or Social Change? Who Benefits From Your Work?
Disentangling power dynamics
Anti-oppressive Practice
Social Workers (Spencer 2008)
100

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?

100

Anti-oppressive social work emerged in the response to these groups.

Who are minority groups? (e.g., POC, disabled)

100

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?

100

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"?

200

This term refers to individual success within a capitalist system.

What is "getting ahead"?

200

These examples of oppression were largely left out in social work before and during the 1970's.

What are sexism, racism, ableism?

200

The historically dominant/prefered model used in the field of mental health

What is the Medical Model?

200

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"?

300

Kivel argues that this primary goal of social service work should be prioritized to foster social change.

What is helping people get together?

300

Social work is critiqued as a practice for in it's nature being ____. (top-down or bottom-up)

What is top-down?

300

The language used by people in power that was constructed to reflect the culture and values of that same group.

What is dominant discourse?

300

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"?

400

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"? 

400

Relationships between providers and clients that emphasize trust, collaboration, education, power sharing, and equity.

What are “working relationships”?

400

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.'"

500

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"? 

500

The most painful aspect of racism (per Spencer, 2008). 

What is "the invalidation of racism"?