- Share an insight gained from reading their post.
- Ask a probing question that will help you gain a deeper understanding of their response.
JA: RESPOND ONE: One of the statements that caught my attention talked about it being okay to feel uncomfortable talking with a specific people (Walden University, N.D.). Being a white male coming from a small white town that is religion-based with very little exposure to difference, I find myself unphased by privilege talks or even in denial sometimes. Minor exposure to what others deal with makes it hard to see that struggle or discrimination. I see things in the media and hear things by word of mouth; however, not experiencing these scenarios firsthand makes it hard to relate to someone who has. Therefore, hearing the professors talk about their own experiences and then making the statement that it is okay to feel uncomfortable makes me feel better about my ignorance. Our jobs as social workers are to hear someone out and advocate on their behalf. Therefore, it is pertinent that I do more research and learn more about the struggles different cultures experience to help them to the best of my ability. I like how the statement was made to take time to think about how I feel while having these conversations and to take the time to focus on what my thoughts are during these conversations (Walden University, N.D.).
A great strategy recommended was asking your client about their experiences. Taking time to focus on someone else’s experiences could better help you understand them and their struggles. However, as pointed out, it is not up to the client to inform you of their culture. It is up to the social worker to understand different backgrounds and how they function and then to let the client fill in their information and story. Therefore, by asking your client about their struggles and how they affect them, you will be able to understand them and help them get to the root of their issue and find a solution while working with them. By asking them to share their experiences, we are engaging and building rapport, trust, and a solid foundation for the client/social worker relationship.
Reference
Voices of Diversity: Race and Ethnicity Video in the Learning Resources
ELA RESPOND TWO:
The section that resonated with me the most while watching the Voices of Diversity video was when Dr. Emmett spoke about how it’s not the client’s job to educate the practitioner about their culture. The client is there to share their experiences and perspective, educating you about their personal identity. However, if there are things you as the social worker don’t understand, feel you need to know more about, or want more context, the effort and responsibility to obtain that information falls on you as the social worker. Additionally, the client may not be a singular accurate representation of their culture simply because everyone’s perception and beliefs vary. Therefore, once you do the research about their particular culture, you then must apply the relevant parts to the client’s experience and adjust your understanding to fit their individual identity. However, as Dr. Hicks said, conversation and engagement is also important, especially since you don’t want to assume that what you learned about their culture directly applies to the client verbatim.
Dr. Smith’s advice about facing your fears and developing your self-awareness are strategies I will apply towards increasing my cultural competence. When working with a client who is racially or ethnically different from myself, this will help encourage those conversations and begin establishing a cross-cultural connection. Difficult or uncomfortable conversations are what set the foundation for social change. If I allow my apprehension, ignorance, or fear get in the way of having those conversations, I am contributing to the imbalance of power and privilege.