Social Location In Social Work

Within the social work practice there is an inherent power differential between practitioner and clients. As I step into a social work role, my social location can affect my work with clients. As a social worker it is important to understand my own unique social location and how oppressions and privileges affect me. How am I uniquely situated in relation to my clients (Girl Action Foundation, 2016)? In understanding my social location, I am essentially questioning what my social location means and challenging pre-conceived assumptions and biases. This means dealing with the oppressions I face, as well as the power and privilege I experience relative to my clients (Girl Action Foundation, 2016).

In any professional relationship there is an …show more content…
My social location in terms of socio-economic status is one held higher than most of my clients and is that of a middle class citizen. An overwhelming majority of people with mental disabilities live within poverty and are subjected to poor physical health. This aspect of my social location might affect my work with my clients because, unaware to the daily inequalities and oppressions my clients face, how will I be able to provide them with the services they need if because of my statues I do not understand what they …show more content…
I am able to relate to the experience of the clients I work with in ways such as race, religious affiliation, and ability. As an African American, I represent a minority in the United States and in dealing with clients of a minority, I am aware of the oppressions my clients face not only being associated with the stigma of mental health, but also racial inequalities. An example of this type of scenario took place at my agency a couple of weeks ago. Our agency is based out of east Jersey as a community outreach service agency working against mental illness and chronic homelessness. My task was to find an apartment for my client that had just signed on with my agency. As an agency we struggled finding an apartment for our client because of the negative stigmas that worked against him. My client was not only a person living with mental illness, but was also a black man. Working within an area that is predominately white, my client experience forms of racial discrimination and was denied housing based on his race. Through my social location I was able to relate to the experience of the clients, build rapport and was able to navigate around the