The Critical Analysis Of Karen Healy’S Text "Social Work Methods & Skills"

This paper will include a critical analysis of Karen Healy’s text Social Work Methods and Skills with a focus on chapter two, Fat is a Social Work Issue by May Friedman, and An Anti-Oppressive Approach to Cultural Competence by Izumi Sakamoto. The critical analysis includes discussing personal and in-class views and if they are consistent or contradict with the main argument in the articles as well as comparing the articles to each other. Furthermore, there will be an analysis of social locations and how they relate to my views. Finally, the main arguments and concepts from each reading will be applied to a case scenario.

Within the course text Social Work Methods and Skills by Karen Healy, chapter two discusses professional communication skills. Healy mentions various communication skills along with how to use them while working with service users. Examining this chapter and its contexts shows that it can be both consistent and contrary to the views discussed in lecture. For instance, Healy mentions SOLER, which is an acronym for a nonverbal communication model (Healy, 2018, p. 27). SOLER stands for sitting squarely, open body posture, leaning towards the other, eye contact, and relaxed (Healy, 2018, p. 27). Within the lecture, most of the students agreed that SOLER is a favorable nonverbal communication model, although eye contact towards a service user is a concern.

This is because many service users can feel uncomfortable about opening up and expressing their themselves to a social worker, furthermore nonverbal communication can vary within different cultures. Therefore, direct eye contact has the ability to cause anxiety and a sense of intimidation rather than feelings of safety. Adopting similar body language patterns of the service user can help to avoid crossing any boundaries that might upset the client. Listening skills are the most important form of communication skills as it helps build a relationship between a social worker and the service user, furthermore it develops a higher level of understanding which is needed to asses and implement interventions (Healy, 2018, p. 23).

This writing is consistent with my own personal views as, from experience, listening and understanding are the most valuable aspects of a social worker. Accurately understanding what the service user is thinking and feeling is crucial because without fully understanding the situation assumptions or inferences about certain things may arise. As a result, this could lead to the client feeling like they have not been heard (Healy, 2018, p. 23). Since previous experiences can affect our judgements, it is important to be objective to avoid being influenced by personal opinions and feelings in order to focus fully on the client along with what they want and need (Healy, 2018, p. 24).

Within the article Fat is a Social Work Issue by May Friedman, the oppression faced by fat people are discussed. This reading is consistent with views discussed in class as most agreed that fat people are oppressed because of their weight. Although, it is not similar to the oppression people face based on sexual orientation or race since “different sites of oppression produce different results.” (Friedman, 2012, p. 55). Fat people face oppression by being paid less than thinner people, denied employment and even health care (Friedman, 2012. p. 55). There is a very little amount of literature in social work that acknowledges fat oppression in its structural nature.Friedman states that people who are fat face discrimination due to the characteristics that are associated with being heavy.

Some of these characteristics include being thought of as self-loathing, incompetent, and lazy (Friedman, 2012, p. 56). Furthermore, diets are seen differently depending on the individual’s weight. There have been multiple incidents where individuals have made negative comments to those who are fat but no to those who are thinner (Friedman, 2012, p. 56). For instance, someone who is thin and eating from a fast food restaurant will receive different attention then someone who is fat eating at the same fast food restaurant. Moreover, if both a fat and thin individual have issues with dieting, the fat person will be seen as having dysfunctional eating habits, whereas the thin person will be seen as having an eating disorder. This is because fat people do experience oppression and discrimination. Friedman argues that “whether fat is a choice or not, fat people do not deserve fat oppression.” (Friedman, 2012, p. 58).

This is a valuable argument because being fat is not always a choice and not something that an individual should be judged for. Some arguments included in this article suggest that a heavier weight can be because obesity is genetically determined to a significant extent. Further, when individuals try dieting, they often return to their original weight or heavier within a couple of years (Friedman, 2012, p. 57). Although being fat is not always a choice, it is important to advocate and have an awareness of fat oppression in order to be knowledgeable about the needs of service users who are fat.

The reading An Anti-Oppressive Approach to Cultural Competence by Izumi Sakamoto discusses the modern status of cultural competence as well as the problems of literature in relation to cultural competence. The components of cultural competence that are mentioned include knowledge, skills and practice, and self-awareness (Sakamoto, 2007, p. 107). This writing is consistent with the views discussed in class because it was acknowledged that when working with a service user who is culturally different from yourself, it is important to focus of the three components of cultural competence since it can help to better understand the client. For instance, having knowledge about how a culturally different client understands the world, applying relevant, culturally appropriate, sensitive skills, and awareness of personal limitations, assumptions, values, and biases are useful factors and can help guide social workers to engage with service users in a way that is culturally sensitive and appropriate (Sakamoto, 2007, p. 107).

Sakamoto states that a limitation of literature in relation to cultural competence is its de-political or apolitical nature. One of the issues within the de-political nature, Sakamoto explains, is that social workers are often assumed to be White, middle-class workers (Sakamoto, 2007, p. 108). Many minority social workers have their cultures suppressed or controlled. To minority workers, their level of competence can be measured by the standard of the “Whiteness” image (Sakamoto, 2007, p.109). This writing is consistent with my views because I believe that minority social workers are often seen as second best when compared to a White social worker. Despite setting standards within social work, not everyone can meet those standards because the system is based on “Whiteness”. Sakamoto states “I advocate a re-visioning of cultural competence that is simultaneously framed by anti-oppressive principles while also being open to different ways of knowing.” (Sakamoto, 2007, p. 109).

I agree with this statement because it is important to have diversity in social work, not only for the social workers but also for the service users. Service users need to be comfortable and feel safe in order to fully express themselves, therefore a client may prefer a social working who they can relate to, whether that is by being the same gender, ethnicity, or sharing the same religion.These writings have aspects that are simultaneously consistent with and contrary to each other. Within the article Fat is a Social Work Issue, Friedman discusses how there is not enough literature surrounding the topic of fat oppression within the social work system (Friedman, 2012, p. 54).

In comparison to the intersection of class, gender, and race, there has not been enough analysis on the issue of fat oppression. In contrast to Friedman’s article, Sakamoto deliberates and examines the topic of cultural competence and how it is necessary to have knowledge, awareness, and skills when working with someone who is culturally different from yourself (Sakamoto, 2007, p. 107). Cultural competence is a well-known issue among social work services, therefore there is an extensive amount of literature and many service providers advocating for an anti-oppressive approach unlike the topic of fat oppression. Similarly, both Sakamoto and Healy agree that understanding cultural differences is necessary to work successfully with the service user.

Whereas Sakamoto discussed knowledge, awareness, and skills as the three components of cultural competence, Healy discusses two procedures to ensure the social workers avoid stereotyping as well as allowing the service user to express their cultural identity and yet recognize the cultural differences. To maintain this balance the two procedures include understanding the cultural differences in communication and adapting to their communication strategies (Healy, 2018, p. 28). Although these three writings discuss different topics, the common theme throughout each article is the need for an anti-oppressive approach within the social work services.Social location includes aspects such as race, gender, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and physical size and more. Based on ones on personal social location, there are a certain set of social rules, privilege, power, and discrimination which influence our identity.

My personal social location would consist of being a White, middle class, eighteen-year-old, straight female. As Sakamoto stated, “the diverse social locations of social workers are ignored and their voices are silenced.” (Sakamoto, 2007, p. 109). Although I agree with Sakamoto’s statement, I will not experience the cultural oppression minority workers experience, such as having their cultural suppressed or controlled, because I am White. Furthermore, since I am considered overweight according to the BMI scale, there is a possibility of being oppressed due to my weight. Friedman makes a strong argument that fat bodies needs to be advocated for more because fat oppression is a concern in today’s society (Friedman, 2012, p. 54).

The message and concepts of the readings will be applied to a social work scenario. For instance, let’s say that an Aboriginal woman who is considered overweight needs social work services because she has been feeling depressed and has had a lot on her mind recently. Since the service user is of a different culture then my own, as Healy stated, it is important that I educate myself on the cultural difference in communication to avoid making the client feel uncomfortable (Healy, 2018, p. 28). Furthermore, I would need to adapt to their communication strategies as well as their body language. As an example, if the service user does not make eye contact we should reduce the amount of direct eye contact to better match their communication style and to help them feel more comfortable.

Additionally, if the service user does not answer or responds a bit late to a question that was asked, it is not meant to be taken as rude or as a signal to start talking, rather some cultures, specifically Indigenous cultures, allow space for silence as a way to reflect, and process emotions and information before responding to a question. Since the service user is considered overweight, being respectful is essential to making her feel relaxed and comfortable. While working with a service user you cannot assume anything because it might upset the client or be considered a form of oppression.

If I assume she is lazy or self-loathing that would be considered oppression because I am making assumptions and judgments based on her physical size. Relating this scenario back to Sakamoto’s writing, I need to be aware of my own biases, values, assumptions, and limitations, I need to try and understand the clients culturally different view of the world, as well as applying sensitive, relevant, and culturally appropriate skills. As a White social worker, it is crucial that an anti-oppressive approach is used and that our different social locations are acknowledged rather than ignored. Within this scenario, looking at the oppression triangle would help to see how institutional, cultural, and personal aspects of the service user’s life affect her as well as interact with each other.