Essay from the year 2012 in the subject Social Work, grade: A, City University of New York Hunter College, course: SSW 717, language: English, abstract: Research has found that the ability to connect with people who are different from us comes from being comfortable and understanding ambiguity of social/ethnic and personal identities. In order to help someone socially different from me I’d have to accept that everyone doesn’t have the same circumstances or background as I do.
Being aware of differences in others can impact my view on dynamics of power and privilege because it makes people in power use it for good. Self-awareness can help the understanding that assisting someone socially different from me not only helps his or her problem, it also makes me a better person for using my superior knowledge for the better of society.
Looking back at my own experience, I conclude that being self-aware can immensely impact how you are viewed when helping others. Being able to be relatable and reassuring the person you are there to help them through an issue and not there to belittle or judge them can be refreshing to hear.
Understanding power and privilege and the roles that are associated with each of them, using knowledge for the better of society rather than as a way to oppress individuals and project ignorance on to them can be the difference between people viewing you as someone that they would return for help or someone that they would never go to again.
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