Oppression and Social Work - Essay Example

Oppression and Social Work Introduction The nature of social work is such that it covers such a broad spectrum of social injustice that comprehending the entire spectrum of oppression is a near impossible task. Baines (2007) outlines the extensive nature of social work as it relates to the complex instances of social injustice. One of the fundamental concerns of social workers is that of racism. While I have no direct experience in relation to this particular topic and largely consider myself an outsider, I understand that it is a fundamental concern of social workers striving towards social equality. This essay considers the nature of oppression, particularly as it relates to the Cree nation in recent and modern Canadian society. The Context of Cree Heritage One of the most prominent occurrences of racism throughout history has occurred between incoming European based communities and existing aboriginal communities. This pattern has been experienced in Australia, in Canada, and in many other parts of the world where Western so called “civilized” societies take control of lands and resources which were previously husbanded by an indigenous population. The Cree nation were first marginalized and then displaced and oppressed by the combined efforts of the Hudson Bay Company and the emerging Canadian national government in the mid nineteenth century. The folk memory of this experience colors the experience of all those people who are descended from the Cree nation. The Cree are the largest grouping of indigenous Indians in Canada but they are still very much outnumbered by those of European heritage. It is my goal to aid these individuals in counseling situations, and as a result the essay examines specific means by which social working professionals with a differing cultural background can relate to people who come from a Cree heritage in overcoming social oppression which may still exist in Canada and North America. Oppression Bryan (2007) discusses the nature of oppression and the various ways that minorities have been oppressed. He notes that ethnic minorities have a history of discrimination within Western culture, and that there are considerable historical factors that have shaped the behavior of minorities. The social worker must be cognizant of the ways that the complex interaction of race, discrimination, and culture influence and affect the helping relationship. There is no monolithic cultural entity among which a people can be grouped; for instance, Bryan (pg. 90) writes, “there is no African American culture, Native American culture…However, there are African American cultures, etc.” As social work practices are heavily rooted in Euro-American cultural norms, many minorities reject the foundational assumptions of these institutions. (Singh & Trusty 2002) Aiding people from a Cree heritage who suffer oppression. When considering the historical situation of the Cree Canadians, it is important to note that many of the modes of oppression exhibited by incoming settlers in the pioneer age have long-term psychological effects, many of which continue to affect Cree and other groups. Therefore, while the Cree have been officially free and apparently well integrated for over a century, the effects of history continue to act as elements of oppression. Even today people from the a Cree background have a generally weaker socioeconomic position, more erratic access to adequate health care, and a higher than average unskilled laborer status, all of which causes them causes them to work in more risky and labor intensive jobs and to suffer above average levels of stress. When one adds to this the stress and distress of oppression and racism, and the fact that they represent a small minority in comparison to dominant groups such as French and British heritage Canadians, it becomes clear that this group suffers multiple disadvantages compared to the national average. Oppression is not always outspoken and obvious : it can be subtle and insidious and this is adds to the stress that oppressed individuals feel, and it can be described as a kind of “social suffering” (Kirmayer and Valaskikis, 2009 pg 249) which often leads to higher levels of mental illness such as depression. There are a number of specific historical dynamics that counseling professionals must familiarize themselves with when acting as helping professionals to people of Cree heritage. One of the major considerations helping professionals must make concerns the special relationship which Cree people have with both ancestors and the land in which they live. This attachment to the past makes historical oppression all the more painful and all the more difficult to overcome in the contemporary world. Misconceptions are also common when considering the role of property, wealth and job performance. The stereotype of a very relaxed or even uncommitted Cree attitude to these things arises from a misunderstanding of the Cree relationship with the material world. For Cree society, material goods are temporary and fleeting while connection with the natural world and the spiritual dimension hold much more importance. Any social worker who comes into contact with Cree culture need not share these views but he or she should at least be able to understand where they come from and how they influence decision making for those individuals. Even such phenomena as increased levels of alcoholism among those of Cree heritage are not just symptoms of poverty, despair and lack of opportunity but they also have an element in cultural and religious history since the Cree have traditionally associated mind altering substances with their reverence for ancestors. Ancient Cree rituals involving plants which are smoked or consumed perform comforting and healing functions and opportunities for social gathering and communal expressions of grief, celebration, commemoration etc. While social work practice in regards to racial oppression is multi-faceted, considering it from a counseling perspective, that it is important for the counselor to explore the client’s perceived level of discrimination, and the types of discrimination they have received. It must never be assumed that just because a person comes from a Cree background, there must be an element of discrimination in their case. If an element of racism or discrimination is part of the constellation of issues in any case, however, then the social worker may want to proceed with a gradual exploration of the positive elements of Cree or of mixed heritage so that discussion can move away from negative associations into a more promising area for reflection and future focus. This focus on the positive has also the benefit of building trust between counselor and client. For the counseling professional, it is important to recognize that someone who has suffered racism and discrimination can sometimes internalize negative attitudes. It is important that the client should be able to accept his or her own self without these negative attitudes distorting their view. Conclusion As can be seen the nature of oppression as evidenced in racism and cultural misunderstanding is a fundamental concern for social work professionals. As a social worker planning to work in advisory and counseling situations, I realize that one of the major challenges I will face in aiding not only people of Cree heritage, but socially oppressed individuals of all cultures, concern my status as an individual that stands outside their cultural background. In considering the ways that oppression occurs, and the specific things that challenge social workers in helping and relating to oppressed individuals, the research has attempted to gain a more finely-tuned understanding of the way one can alleviate social injustice and inequality. References Baines, Donna. (2007). Doing Anti-Oppressive Practice: Building Transformative, Politicized Social Work. Fernwood Publishing. Bryan, W. V/ (2007) Multicultural aspects of disabilities. (Second Edition). Charles C. Thomas publisher. Springfield Il. Kirmayer, Laurence and Valaskakis, Gail Guthrie. (2009) The Mental Health of Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. UBC Press. Singh Daya, Trusty Jerry. (2002) Multicultural counseling: context, theory, and practice. Nova Science Pub Inc Read More