Oppression Cultural Competency: Religious Diversity
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This assignment is the assessed competency for EPAS 3 (Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice) and aligns with the Knowledge, Values, and Cognitive and Affective Processes dimensions. The National Association for Social Workers (NASW) has identified cultural humility as necessary for culturally competent practice. The NASW (2017) Code of Ethics was revised in 2021 to include more language about cultural competence. The Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) of the CSWE (2022) has identified EPAS 3b: Students are expected to demonstrate cultural humility by applying critical reflection, self-awareness, and selfregulation to manage the influence of bias, power, privilege, and values in working with clients and constituencies, acknowledging them as experts of their own lived experience. This assignment provides an opportunity for praxis: action, reflection, action. Before beginning this assignment, please review this information about metacognition and directions for using “comment bubbles” to reflect on your thoughts and feelings: Combined with reflection, metacognitive strategies can help students become aware of what they are thinking as they are learning and can improve student learning outcomes…Metacognition is a form of higher-level thinking in which students think about their own thinking. This occurs when individuals observe, develop, and evaluate their own thought processes…One of these strategies involves having students monitor their writing choices by commenting on their own texts during the writing process. (Sanchez et al., 2019, p. 76) Metacognition is a kind of internal dialogue students engage in when they talk to themselves as they monitor their thinking. Sanchez et al. (2019) believe that “fostering metacognition among social work students is necessary for students to be consciously aware of their biases, beliefs, and assumptions to challenge their “taken-for-granted” or internalized views about society. By examining, questioning, validating, and revising these taken-for-granted perspectives, students can move toward cognitive, affective, and behavioral changes that affect their practice with clients who may be culturally different from them” (p. 77). When you write this paper, you will insert comments in your papers by using the insert comment function in Microsoft Word. Sanchez et al. (2019) found that “students found this strategy beneficial because it provided them with insight into their own writing process” (p. 77). “Comment bubbles” can foster metacognition “by helping students become aware of their own thinking and develop an internal dialogue during the writing process. Such reflection invites individuals to talk to themselves to make sense of events and experiences…The comment bubble exercise is a conscious, deliberate activity that allows each student to make his or her thinking visible, monitor thinking, and engage in an internal dialogue during the writing process.” (p. 77). For this assignment, a minimum of two (2) comment bubbles are required.
Oppression Cultural Competency: Religious Diversity
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The interplay between oppression, cultural competency, and religious diversity forms a compelling and multifaceted landscape that influences various facets of human existence. Oppression, a systemic force that can manifest based on religious diversity, underscores the critical need for social awareness and action to dismantle its destructive influence. Cultural competency, akin to a key to understanding diverse traditions and rituals, requires a profound understanding of cultural intricacies and the cultivation of self-awareness to mitigate biases. Recognizing the significance of religious diversity and appreciating the diverse customs and practices is also essential in fostering an inclusive and equitable society. This paper explores the significance of religious diversity within the context of cultural competency in social work, drawing parallels between the diverse experiences observed during a Catholic Church service and the need for social workers to comprehend and respect various beliefs and practices.
Understanding Oppression in Social Work
Oppression is a pervasive societal issue that can be identified as systematically discriminating against individuals or groups based on race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status. It is not confined to isolated incidents but infiltrates society through systemic inequalities, institutional biases, and individual prejudices. Oppression manifests diversely, from overt discrimination to subtle bias rooted in societal structures. It impacts marginalized communities profoundly, exacting a toll on their well-being and perpetuating cycles of disadvantage (Hester, 2022). In social work, combating oppression is foundational; social workers challenge oppressive systems, advocate for equity, and empower individuals and communities. Understanding oppression is crucial for social workers as they navigate cultural competency and religious diversity, as it shapes the experiences of those seeking equitable treatment and social justice.
Cultural Competency in Social Work
Cultural competency in the realm of social work, reminiscent of the respect and understanding I extended to the traditions and rituals of the Catholic Church service, revolves around the imperative of engaging sensitively and respectfully with individuals hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds. This crucial competency necessitates a profound comprehension of the multifaceted aspects of culture, including values, beliefs, customs, and traditions that significantly shape an individual's identity and perspective (Melendres, 2020). To embody cultural competency, social workers must also embark on a journey of self-awareness and bias recognition, mirroring the introspective process I undertook when critically examining my thoughts and feelings during the church service. This process empowers social workers to identify, acknowledge, and challenge their biases and assumptions, ultimately equipping them to deliver equitable and highly effective services to clients representing a rich tapestry of cultural backgrounds.
The Significance of Religious Diversity
Religious diversity is significant in society, much like the diverse experiences and customs one may encounter during a Catholic Church service. It encompasses many religious beliefs and practices within a community (Azzopardi, 2020). Like the various rituals and traditions witnessed at the service, religious diversity is an integral f...