Several times, the professor of my generalist social work class raised the following question (my paraphrase): Do social workers exist simply to make the current social machine function more smoothly, or are we reformers, bringing change where change is needed? I have found this to be a fascinating question, as I have always imagined social workers as movers and shakers, and yet can see how easily we could be pressured into simply representing the powers that be and maintaining the status quo. Through my social welfare class, I have discovered that this question goes back to the very beginning of social work.
Social work was first seriously conceptualized as a profession during the time of the Settlement House movement (around 1890 to 1920), as these urban slum reformers discovered the value of having trained agents in the field, instead of just well-meaning volunteers. However, in order to gain standing as a profession, it was necessary to gain the approval of the upper echelons of society, of academia. A change in this direction occurred during WWI, as "caseworkers" played key roles in identifying enlisted men who suffered from mental illnesses, thus serving the wider society, not just the poor. The process opened a whole new perspective of social workers as caregivers for the mentally ill, a service needed by every socio-economic class. In gaining status through this means, however, social work largely turned its back on its reformist roots. To this day, a small group continues to rage against this shift in identity.
Currently, of the major sociological theories, social work adheres primarily to Systems Theory (initiated by Weber), a perspective that takes into consideration both the person and their environment. In many ways this is a rich perspective, bringing attention not only to the inner psychological workings of the individual, but also to the external realities that make up our lives. However, it is also a basically conservative perspective, encouraging the smallest possible tweaking of the external situation that will solve the immediate problem: in most cases, this mainly involves changes on the part of the individual or their family. Another major sociological theory, Conflict Theory (initiated by Marx), on the other hand, raises questions about problems with the systems themselves, encouraging radical reform. The difference can be seen in the case of a teenager truant from an inner city school. Is the main problem the way the teenager interacts with his/her environment (Systems Theory), or is it that the school system is not set up to deal with or respond to the realities faced by the teenager's community (Conflict Theory)?
Both responses to that particular question have been proposed. Both may contain helpful aspects of truth. The difficulty with Conflict Theory in practice is that changing systems takes a lot of effort - sometimes across multiple decades or generations - and in the end is not always possible. Also, the change that benefits one community too easily hinders another. It is easier to work with individuals and their families, to do as much as we can to bring positive change on a smaller scale. Sometimes, it even seems more effective. Sometimes, however, it seems we are continually fishing people out of the water, without ever going upstream to find out how they got there in the first place.
I entered social work to become a counselor. I still have that intention. I believe my personality and talents function more effectively on a small group or one-on-one basis. I am more skilled as a therapist than as a social reformer. However, that does not mean I am content with the status quo. It does not mean I will ignore the problems in our systems, problems that cause never-ending headaches to the hard-working poor of our own country, not to mention communities internationally. I will continue to seek to understand the problems and flaws in our society, for in so doing, I better understand what my clients can and cannot effect in their own lives. I hope to continue to delve into them, that at the right time, and in the right ways, I might be a voice for change.
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