PERSONAL REFLECTION

Personal Reflection Final David Hazen Wayne State University SW3110: Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice Professor Sharonlyn Harrison, Ph.D.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Personal Work Plan for Cultural Competency

Culture is understood as a medium through which knowledge and objects are passed from one generation to another, in a continuum of beliefs and values that describe or define a group that have commonalities like language, and familial place of origin. Allowed to flourish, culture will resist change, and contribute to an individual and group systems self-identity. Social workers need to be aware of culturally diverse populations and knowledgeable about the components that make up that diversity to better serve the populations that are shaped by it.

Self-Assessment of Beginning Cultural Competence: My life experiences prior to this course gave me a great deal of cultural competence at the street level by the time I started this course. My father taught physical education, coached hockey, and taught music lessons on the First Nations Tobique Band Reservation in New Brunswick, Canada. Many times I accompanied my father to the reservation. This was much more than a privilege. I was the son of a white man whom was accepted by the tribe, and I was given a feather. I made many friends and even participated in blood brother rituals. I got to learn much of the mannerisms and social norms of that group. I developed a great appreciation, gratitude and reverence for nature, and human beings. After my parents divorce, my father married, and my stepmother was first generation immigrant to U.S. and Canada, from the Philippines. They gave me a little sister, whom was not denied the ancestral traditions and language of her mother. I was exposed to those same traditions and values, and we had family gatherings that brought Filipinos from all over Canada to our home. My school and work experiences gave me exposure to Hispanic/Latino groups and African American groups. My

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Aunties husband was first generation immigrant from Iran. Family gatherings at my cousins home brought a large number of Arabs together, and I learned a lot. I felt as though I was a part of all of these cultures. Whenever I examined any of these groups I felt a deeper sense of meaning toward their cultures than I did my own. What I have found in the text to describe how that paradigm affected me may be closely related to James Marcias work with Erik Eriksons theoretical ideas of identity development and Sigmund Freuds psychodynamic theories. Moratoriums are psychodynamically more homogeneous than the other identity status groups. They are straddling between 2 major and distinct sets of organization, unable to opt for one side or another (Appleby, et al., 2001). I realized that diversity is a beautiful thing, and when I was made aware of discrimination, oppression, and exploitation, I simply did not want to be associated with the values of Euro-Anglo beliefs of superiority.

What I Have Learned in This Course? Chapter 5, the Dynamics of Oppression and Discrimination informed me of invisible forms of discrimination and oppression, that I was only softly aware of. I knew that discrimination and oppression existed in institutions, but I did not realize that those ideologies were embedded. I was challenged about my own preconceived notion that I believe myself to be equal with all human beings. What piqued my curiosity was how wrapped up I got in my own personal experience of wondering if I ever achieved anything by my own effort, or was it just some invisible hall pass I was wearing in a male white skin. I think I took the lessons more personal than that which the class intended. I spent a lot of time searching for significant reasons to explain my desire to embrace all diversity among peoples, and passion to serve as an agent of change toward the well being of all living things, while I believe the text was showing me that by

PERSONAL REFLECTION

proxy of gender and race or ethnicity I have been stereotyped as representing an oppressive force, that perpetuates prejudice and discrimination. I do not want to be an advocate simply because someone has been treated unfairly, which is a serious matter, but because I truly believe that all humans are created equal in the sight of God, and must be treated as such for society to experience true well being. I believe I would like to know more about the mental and physical affects on the developing human within the mother who is herself within an environment that is not conducive to her own well being.

What Does This Mean for my Practice? The types of clientele that I might find challenging may be those exposed to environments that have left them feeling hopeless. I know that this will take a lot of work at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. I will have to encourage the clientele that I work with to be proactive and participate in the planned change process. That will involve looking at the individuals environment to determine targets of change that will take community-building skills. Using PIE assessment factors I and II, along with those sub categories of the PIE system of analysis to assess my clients level of social function, mental and physical health is essential for me as a social worker to make thorough assessments of my client. I realize that oppressive and prejudicial forces within my clients environment can lead to mental disorders along with physical problems. I know what it is like to experience some of the symptoms of some mental disorders, and I have experienced what stress and emotion can do to the physical body if not processed in a healthy manner that promotes equilibrium and homeostasis. I believe this will be beneficial for me while working with the diverse cultures and ethnicities that I am destined for. I as a social worker want to go where I am needed and can do the most good. I am not particularly

PERSONAL REFLECTION

driven by greed as much as gratification for doing what I believe is good and beneficial for the well being of the vulnerable, marginalized and oppressed. I want to learn more about early diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance of mental disorders like bipolar disorder and other forms of psychosis. I really will not know what population is difficult for me to work with until I have gone down that road. I think it would be difficult to work with someone that does not want to see any change for the better. However, having said that it would be difficult, I would not shrink from the challenge to try. I want to work with all cultures, so I intend to learn a lot more to enhance my effectiveness as an agent of change social worker. I did have some reservations about working within prison populations, but I have since thought of this in a different light, seeing that I am an advocate for those whom may be service users, and I just have to enjoy the process of being a social worker and the journey that it leads me on.

What More Do I Need To Know? I need to continue my journey of life long learning, and apply all of my knowledge toward the service of advocating for and promoting the well being of humanity, while upholding the values and beliefs of the NASW, and our code of ethics. I will accomplish this through practice, exposure to and embracement of diverse cultures and ethnicities, participation in cultural celebrations and recognitions, and continued education.

Action Steps: I will continue my education in the study and practice of social work. I will continue to visit ethnic communities and bring commerce to them. I will continue to do volunteer work.

PERSONAL REFLECTION I will become active in community restoration projects. I will participate in calendar celebrations, including equinox and solstice. I will recognize and honor religious differences.

References: Appleby, G. (p. 36-41, 2001). Diversity, oppression, and social functioning: Person-inenvironment assessment and intervention. (3rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

PERSONAL REFLECTION