Competency 3
Engage
Anti-Racism, Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI)
in Practice
Social workers understand how racism and oppression impact humans and influence practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Social workers understand the widespread impact of White supremacy and privilege and use this knowledge to engage in anti-racism practices. Social workers understand that intersectionality and diversity shape the human experience and identity development, which can include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation, as well as privilege and power. Social workers understand the origins of social and racial injustices and the means of oppression and discrimination. Social workers understand that societal and cultural structures can create inequity, resulting in systemic oppression. Social workers practice cultural humility, recognizing clients as the experts of their lived experiences.
Demonstrated Skills & Projects
Cultural Humility
This assignment demonstrates how I can relate to the core emotions individuals experience who have intersectionalities that result in oppression and descrimination.
More importantly, this assignment shows how, while I can know what my experience is, that I will never truly know the experience of others without seeking knowledge and understanding from each indvidual themselves to best understand their individual experience.
Systemic Racism + Oppression
This assignment was one I completed my first semester in the Bachelor of Social Work program at GVSU. At the time, as the reflection in this paper shows, I was unaware of how racism and oppression are ingrained into government systems. While I was aware of micro level impacts of racism prior to this class, it was In this class that I learned about how purposeful systems of oppression are in our society and have been used by individuals in positions of power and authority to maintain control by pitting minority groups against one another.
Impact Analysis & Key Insights
Reflection on Practice: While having worked in the social work field in a peer support role for some time, gaining knowledge in the Bachelor of Social Work program has helped me to develop my knowledge and understanding of systemic oppression. I have learned about the history of oppressive systems and their purposeful functioning to continue oppression in the society we live in today. Additionally, I have learned and developed skills that support me to engage in cultural humility when working with clients. It is not only valuable to know that clients are their own experts in their experience, but to have developed skills to ask questions and support clients to advocate for themselves to help me and others understand their experiences from their perspective.
Future Implications: There are oppressive systems that have existing for long periods globally, so learning in this area will forever be an ongoing journey of discovery. Additioanlly, cultural humility is also an ongoing practice. I value the continued use of my skills to support clients to educate me about their individual lived experiences.