The Impact Of Social Divisions Social Work Essay

The Impact Of Social Divisions Social Work EssaySocial Workers work with some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Society, those who fox been possibly subjected to oppression in their effortless lives. near would agree that Social Work is a diverse and shifting activity (Jones 200241) in response to the situations presented deep down conjunction. The society that we live in advise be seen as one with many divisions, due to respective(prenominal) difference, people are categorised in due to these differences such as g intercepter, race, class, age and disability. These Social Divisions potentiometer result in certain groups being oppressed.Barker (2003306-307) defines oppression asThe kindly act of placing dread(a) restrictions on an private, group or institution. Typically a government or governmental organisation that is in power places these restrictions formally or covertly on oppressed groups so that they whitethorn be put-upon and less able to compete with other sociable groups, the oppressed are devalued exploited and disadvantaged of privileges by the individual or group that has more power.Oppression notify be fully unsounded through attention to race, gender, class, disability, sexuality and age. Society roll in the hay attribute to these differences by defining people and their roles establish on their different experiences in relation to the power, status and opportunities in society.Northern Ireland is seen as a multi- heathenish society with inhabitants from many different backgrounds and cultures. The roles and expectations that society assumes for different group of people is immersed on a cultural level, and then creating common values about what is normal which creates perceptions of affectionate norms. Through these perceptions of fond norms oppression comes to the forefront.Recurring distinction leads to oppression. Thompson (199810) says this is inhuman or degrading treatment of individuals or groups hardsh ip and injustice brought about by the mastery of one group over another, the negative and demanding exercise of power. Oppression often involves disregarding the rights of an individual or group and is a denial of citizenship.It is important that it is recognise that oppression is not intended solely to affect to situations where a powerful person or group exerts tyranny over others it also refers to the structural injustices that can arise from often unintentional oppressive assumptions and interactions which occur as a result of institutional and social customs, economic practices and rules. (Clifford and Burke 2009)For the purpose of this assignment I am going to focus on racialism and the oppression set about by Travellers as an ethnic minority group. Travellers are an indigenous minority in Ireland and enjoy a distinctive culture, value system and common language. (OConnell, 20064)Travellers nomadic mannersstyle follows a ordinary based on economic practices and religion. According to the Government, Travellers have shared out histories, a nomadic way of life and distinct cultural identity (Department of Justice 2005 Cited by OConnell 20064)One notable feature about the intervention of Travellers is the trend to assort traveller oppression with the terms secernment and prejudice and not racism, a tendency which is reflective of a broader resistance among some members of the Irish public and some policymakers and politicians to naming the treatment of travellers as racist. (Exchange House Travellers Service, 2005, www.exchangehouse.ie) (accessed 14/10/10)The failure to acknowledge traveller oppression as racism may be stemming from failure to acknowledge travellers as a distinct ethnic group. While travellers are visually racialised in society by their normandism, they were also marked through their physical, not structural whiteness. This failure to associate the marginalisation of travellers in Irish Society with racism supports a false under standing of racism as pertaining exclusively or primarily to people of colour (Downes Gilligan 2007249) despite definitions such as Burke and Harrisons (2000 283) who cerebrateracism is a multidimensional and complex system of power and powerlessness, a process in which powerful groups are able to dominate, which can be seen in the differential outcomes for less powerful groups in accessing operate in the health and welfare, education, housing and the legal and criminal justice systems.This notion of power can point the segregations in society, and can heighten the oppression faced by those of ethnic minority groups.The development of racial ideology does not reflect the state of knowledge about racial differences but an aspect of social conflict.(Ely and Denny 19874) racialism is a negative term with negative connotations and can be seen as a socially constructed ideology rather than a biological entity. (Thompson 2006) The impact of racism on ethnic minority groups can be detr imental, it can place many restraint on the lives of the individuals such as being certified in what services they can avail of, the lack of knowledge about the provisions and opportunities available to them. racial discrimination damages those it oppresses socially, economically and politically. (Dominelli 200865)Thompson (1993, p19) states thatP refers to the personal or psychological it is the individual level thoughts, feelings, attitudes and actions. It also refers to practice, individual workers interacting with individual clients, and prejudice, the inflexibility of mind, which stands in the way of fair and non judgmental practice.C refers to the cultural level of shared ways of seeing, thinking and doing. It relates to the commonalities, values and patterns of thought and behaviour, an assumed consensus about what is right and what is normal It produces conformity to social norms, and comic humour acts as a vehicle for transmitting and reinforcing this culture.S refers to the structural level, the network of social divisions it relates to the ways in which oppression and discrimination are institutionalised and thus sewn in to the framework of society. It denotes the wider level of social forces, the socio-political dimension of interlocking patterns of power and influence.At the Personal Level Travellers can be seen to be oppressed in many ways, the impressions that Travellers are dirty, criminalAs a minority group, Travellers buzz off discrimination and oppression they are marginalised and excluded by people of the settled community. Poverty is seen to be part of daily living within the travelling community and many of the settled community feel that it is due to their Normandic way of life and that it could be solved by settling down and getting a job. (De Burca Jeffers 1999 Cited in Downes Gilligan, 2007249) earlier than offering a structural explanation for traveller poverty, or an understanding of these experiences from the travellers point of view, the views and interpretations of the dominant cultural group are usually imposed on travellers. (Downes Gilligan 2007) However the oppression faced by travellers cannot be seen just from a personal point of view, it needs to be viewed in a broader context. Racism manifests itself in many different ways in society. Thompsons (2006) PCS model provides an understanding to how racism des so it can be seen to operate at three different levels, the personal, cultural and structural. Clifford and Burke (200918) believe that Oppression operates at both structural and personal levels at the same time.Since the formation of the Welfare State many changes have come about which have resulted in positive actions in attempting to challenge racism and the oppression faced by people in Society. Social Policy plays an important part in promoting integration in society. One of the functions of the Welfare provision in general, is to promote the integration of individuals in society. (Olive r 199678) These policies may be interpreted as responses to perceived social needs. The policies evolve within an environment where problems come to the forefronts that are seen to require political solutions and pressures occur for new political responses. (Hill 2009)Social Work practice is transforming through the creation of social dealings, further equality and justice in moving toward an anti- racist approach, a political stance against racism is select on the personal, institutional and cultural levels within policies, practice, education and Social Work organisations. (Dominelli, 2008)OConnell (20065) states that Travellers have been victims of violence and intimidation and have been subject to exclusion from services, giving rise to many cases under the contact Status feign. This Act covers discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, age, marital status, family status, religion, sexual orientation, disability and membership of the Traveller Community. Deconstructin g power relations and privileging within professional relationships can begin the processes of changing professional and organisational structures. Dominelli (200877)The Traveller Education strategy (2006) seeks an end to separate Traveller provision in education to be replaced by inclusive provision in main stream services.The need to respect Travellers rights is a logical element of the new human rights and equality architecture established since 1998 the creation of an Equality Authority to promote equality, an Equality Tribunal to hear discrimination cases, the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) to give expert advice on these issues, and the Irish gentle Rights Commission (IHRC) to promote human rights. Ireland has adopted new anti-discrimination legislation (1998 Employment Equality Act and 2000 Equal Status Act), and most recently the State has announced a National Action Plan against Racism (Department of Justice 2005).Anti-racist initiati ves are reflected in Social Work education and practice, many Social work organisations sedulous with what is known as Race Awareness Training. These initiative target Social Work education as well as service delivery. CCETSW implemented an anti racist policy which was aimed at looking at ways to educate student and practitioners of anti-racist practices. (Llewellyn 2008)