Differences
Please use the PowerPoints and the articles listed below to complete the discussion post. Each discussion should 1-2 full paragraphs. Please place all references used for each discussion under each.
Material for Discussion #1
o McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack.Peace and Freedom, (July/August),10-12.
o NASW (n.d.). Standards for cultural competence in social work practice.
o Pharr, S. (1988). The common elements of oppressions. Homophobia: A weapon of sexism (pp. 53-64). Inverness, CA: Chardon Press.
Media
o PowerPoint – Defining and Experiencing Difference
o PowerPoint – The Meaning of Difference
Discussion Post #1: Explore how these readings impacted your understanding about difference. Specifically address how difference is constructed and experienced, as well as how you make meaning of difference. (You can write this from the view of a African American)
Please use the PowerPoints and the articles listed below to complete the discussion post.
Material for Discussion #2
Articles
• Grassroots Policy Project. (2004). Power and organizing. Washington, D.C.: Author. ** Please read the entire article. This reading is best viewed when using Chrome.**
• Jansson, B. (2003). Committing to an Issue: Building Agendas. In Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate: From Policy Practice to Social Justice. 4th Ed. Pacific Cove, CA: Brooks/Cole
• Kingdon, J. (1995). Wrapping things up. In Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policy. NY: Addams and Wesley Publishers.
• Larson, G. (2008). Anti-oppressive practice in mental health. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 19 (1), 39-54.
• Morris, P. M. (2002). The capabilities perspective: A framework for social justice. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 83 (4), 365-373.
• Polack, R. J. (2004). Social justice and the global economy: New challenges for social work in the 21st century. Social Work, 49 (2), 281-290.
Media
• PowerPoint – Cultural Competence Social Justice and Change
• PowerPoint – Kingdon’s Agenda Setting Model
• PowerPoint – Power
Discussion Post #2: As social workers, we will engage individuals, families, groups and communities who have experienced oppression based on their status.
We have privilege, based on the power of our professional role, that our clients do not. How will you work with difference as a social worker? What can you do to address oppression?
The readings and the powerpoints had a great impact on my understanding about difference. The information that was presented was extremely substanstial and allowed me to further explore my own understanding about difference. The first thing that I reflected on was the differences between Essentialism and Constructionalism. I personally think that I am both an Essentialist and a Constructionalist. I believe that are real and important differences among people, but I also believe that some of these differences are constructed through social processes.
In our society today I believe that there is alot of dichotomizing and that is a big part of how difference is constructed and experienced. You go out into society and you immediately notice people’s differences. You see difference in skin color, maybe a difference accent, income, sexuality etc. As it was described in the powerpoint, we name people and the group them(or dichotomize them) according to the differences that we see. This is also where the action of naming people, “the Norm” or “the other” comes into play. Let’s say a wealthier person goes out in public and sees someone who is not dressed as nicely as them. The wealthier person is most likely going to marginalize the less wealthier person. They will assume that this person “needs help” or “they are poor”. I am not saying that everyone thinks like this. If someone were to ask me to describe “The Norm” vs “the Other”, this is how I would describe it.
I was raised to see the dignity and the human worth in everyone regardless of social class, race, gender etc. I am a human being and I do have internal biases and learned stereotypes. As I have gotten older, I definitely see the differences in people when I am in public. Within the powerpoint there was something that was said that really stuck out to me. Ridlen and Dane(1992) said, “when we use the word “different” in describing categories of people, it most often not value-free but value-laden. The powerpoint then goes on to describe that these differences become associated with the different characteristics we see. It is after that the process of dichotomizing people begins.
It is clear that oppression and discrimination have both stemmed from the fact that people can be grouped according to their differences. Oppression, discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice have all come about due to the fact that we attribute meaning to difference.
As a child I was always taught that we are all made in the image and likeness of God. This is how I’ve always viewed difference. I do notice general differences in people but I do my best not to categorize or steretype them. I am aware of the many privileges that I have, but I do not use them in the sense of putting myself in “the norm” category.
Please use the PowerPoints and the articles listed below to complete the discussion post. Each discussion should 1-2 full paragraphs. Please place all references used for each discussion under each.
Material for Discussion #1
- McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack.Peace and Freedom, (July/August),10-12.
- NASW (n.d.). Standards for cultural competence in social work practice.
- Pharr, S. (1988). The common elements of oppressions. Homophobia: A weapon of sexism (pp. 53-64). Inverness, CA: Chardon Press.
Media
- PowerPoint – Defining and Experiencing Difference
- PowerPoint – The Meaning of Difference
Discussion Post #1: Explore how these readings impacted your understanding about difference. Specifically address how difference is constructed and experienced, as well as how you make meaning of difference. (You can write this from the view of a African American)
Please use the PowerPoints and the articles listed below to complete the discussion post.
Material for Discussion #2
Articles
- Grassroots Policy Project. (2004). Power and organizing. Washington, D.C.: Author. ** Please read the entire article. This reading is best viewed when using Chrome.**
- Jansson, B. (2003). Committing to an Issue: Building Agendas. In Becoming an Effective Policy Advocate: From Policy Practice to Social Justice. 4th Ed. Pacific Cove, CA: Brooks/Cole
- Kingdon, J. (1995). Wrapping things up. In Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policy. NY: Addams and Wesley Publishers.
- Larson, G. (2008). Anti-oppressive practice in mental health. Journal of Progressive Human Services, 19 (1), 39-54.
- Morris, P. M. (2002). The capabilities perspective: A framework for social justice. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 83 (4), 365-373.
- Polack, R. J. (2004). Social justice and the global economy: New challenges for social work in the 21st century. Social Work, 49 (2), 281-290.
Media
- PowerPoint – Cultural Competence Social Justice and Change
- PowerPoint – Kingdon’s Agenda Setting Model
- PowerPoint – Power
Discussion Post #2: As social workers, we will engage individuals, families, groups and communities who have experienced oppression based on their status.
We have privilege, based on the power of our professional role, that our clients do not. How will you work with difference as a social worker? What can you do to address oppression?
The readings and the powerpoints had a great impact on my understanding about difference. The information that was presented was extremely substanstial and allowed me to further explore my own understanding about difference. The first thing that I reflected on was the differences between Essentialism and Constructionalism. I personally think that I am both an Essentialist and a Constructionalist. I believe that are real and important differences among people, but I also believe that some of these differences are constructed through social processes.
In our society today I believe that there is alot of dichotomizing and that is a big part of how difference is constructed and experienced. You go out into society and you immediately notice people’s differences. You see difference in skin color, maybe a difference accent, income, sexuality etc. As it was described in the powerpoint, we name people and the group them(or dichotomize them) according to the differences that we see. This is also where the action of naming people, “the Norm” or “the other” comes into play. Let’s say a wealthier person goes out in public and sees someone who is not dressed as nicely as them. The wealthier person is most likely going to marginalize the less wealthier person. They will assume that this person “needs help” or “they are poor”. I am not saying that everyone thinks like this. If someone were to ask me to describe “The Norm” vs “the Other”, this is how I would describe it.
I was raised to see the dignity and the human worth in everyone regardless of social class, race, gender etc. I am a human being and I do have internal biases and learned stereotypes. As I have gotten older, I definitely see the differences in people when I am in public. Within the powerpoint there was something that was said that really stuck out to me. Ridlen and Dane(1992) said, “when we use the word “different” in describing categories of people, it most often not value-free but value-laden. The powerpoint then goes on to describe that these differences become associated with the different characteristics we see. It is after that the process of dichotomizing people begins.
It is clear that oppression and discrimination have both stemmed from the fact that people can be grouped according to their differences. Oppression, discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice have all come about due to the fact that we attribute meaning to difference.
As a child I was always taught that we are all made in the image and likeness of God. This is how I’ve always viewed difference. I do notice general differences in people but I do my best not to categorize or steretype them. I am aware of the many privileges that I have, but I do not use them in the sense of putting myself in “the norm” category.