Anti-Oppressive Practice Approaches to Social Work

My role play video had several weaknesses. It also had a variety of strengths that could be helpful to the client in the long run. The case in hand involves a woman who has issues with the daughter (Donacha 2014). The woman’s name is Emily while that of her daughter is Julia. Julia’s becoming discrete is the main issue in this video. Emily wants to know if the daughter can become more open with her and to learn the underlying issues of the situation.

Looking at the video, you will notice various issues. First, the feminist theory is used. Since the conflict is between a woman and her daughter, the feminist approach is very reliable (Howe 2009). At this point, I am aware that the social work is a caring profession. I therefore must care to listen to the problems in the perspective of the mother while not actually delivering judgment. Communicating with the mother helps to identify the issues that face the family. I however must be able to accommodate all possibilities since the mother may as well be to blame for her daughter’s behavior. It is therefore necessary for me to keep things in perspective until all information is gathered.

With regard to the feminist analysis, women are not immune to the aspect of abusing others. It is very likely that the change of the daughter’s behavior is tied to the mother’s mistreatment. I use the mother who is my client at the moment to learn the story. The mother gives her version of the story. The story however remains unclear and a second opinion may be required. However, one idea stands out. This idea is that the mother may be scared that her daughter may be in a relationship that is threatening their closeness (Milner and O’Byrne 2009). With the daughter knowing as much as that the mother would feel threatened by her getting into a relationship with a boyfriend, it is likely for the daughter to be discrete.

In the movie, I also employ the Thomson’s PCS approach. The PCS approach is aware of ideologies that are generally accepted in a society. Parents have the role of caring for their children, and especially controlling them (Nelson 2012). With this in mind, it is very easy for parents to mistreat their children. Underlined by the fact that parents have more power compared to their children, it is much easier for the parents to use oppressive practices on their children.

On the other hand, it is also common in the present community for children to believe that they should be independent. They believe that the ideologies of their parents are passed by time and that it is only right for them to rebel against their children. With such conflicting ideologies, it is only expected that the two groups will conflict.

To understand the problems that surround the family, I take the responsibility of collecting the details that surround Julia’s life. These include her friends. I also take this chance to learn how the mother relates with these friends and how well she understands them.

The other part is the role I must play to reunite the two individuals. During the course of the interview, I understand that it is my role to end the conflict between the two individuals. In this regard, I cannot afford to give promises that I cannot deliver on. When the mother asks me to divert the information that will be provided by the daughter, I decline. I promise instead to ask the daughter for permission to divert this information to the mother. On top of that, I will also provide do my best to offer any support that the daughter may require.

The video however has some weaknesses as well. I do not cover all the aspects of the Thomson’s PCS model in trying to resolve the conflict. Instead, I concentrate on obtaining personal information. While this information could be useful in providing a solution, it may be lacking in some way. It may be necessary for me to understand the cultural and structural aspects of the situation for me to obtain a good and lasting solution. More questions should be created in this regard to make similar interviews more developmental.

Finally, the use of notes and a notebook is essential for this interview. In cases where many clients are to be served, it is vital for me to make such notes. These notes could be helpful in handling the case in the future. In this case, noting down some things could help when I interview Julia. Taking notes is also important for the general development of the case, when I note things down, the client may opt to translate this as interest in the aspects we are discussing at the point.

In conclusion, the case of Emily and her daughter is likely to be resolved if great care is taken. I approach this case using the feminism analysis and the Thomson’s PCS approach. The approaches can however be improved by using the entire systems that are built into the PCS model.

References

Donacha, S. (2014). HSW313- Role Play Assignment 2. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBaSpKeDSps&index=1&list=UUMgdfsMc9yzN8SVy4otTAKA

Howe, D. (2009). A brief introduction to social work theory (1st ed.). Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire [England]: Palgrave Macmillan.

Milner, J., & O’Byrne, P. (2009). Assessment in social work (1st ed.). Basingstoke [England]: Palgrave Macmillan.

Nelson, A. (2012). Social work with substance users (1st ed.). Los Angeles: SAGE.