1. Please go to and listen: http://www.ted.com/talks/shabana_basij_rasikh_dare_to_educate_afghan_girls.html
Now
go her school's website: http://www.sola-afghanistan.org/.
Now suppose
you were invited to be a global social worker at her school and you are asked to
use your social work practice skills to help those girls who seem to be
struggling with learning or behavior there. Now imagine that your client is a
10 year old girl who is so extremely quiet and compliant that it is hard for her
to speak up in class and even to write about her own opinions. Please write
about how you would:
a) handle the problem that your girl client is from
a very different culture than your own
b) evaluate what problems might
be affecting the girl's learning and behavior (family, community, for instance)
and how you might help her and her family.
Remember to cite your
sources in terms of readings for our class about the impact of culture and
family life on children's behavior.
c) how does this example represent a
global issue in terms of women's equality, and how do the difficulties women
have in being educated contribute to the problem of global poverty?
1) a) As a global social worker, I would have to first understand her culture. I would embrace her culture and understand where she comes from before addressing the issue. I would also talk to her about what my roles are in terms of her culture versus my own. I would also address that my roles vary, and can be adapted to her culture.
ReplyDeleteb) One problem that may be affecting the girl’s learning and behavior are her inhibitions. This could be a reason for her inability to speak up, and her compliancy. Chen et al. (1998) stated that inhibition and social wariness may serve as dispositional bases for the display of shy and socially reticent behaviors” (p. 677). Such inhibited behaviors, are found in and vary across many cultures. Additionally, the way the girls parent’s respond to her, and their attitude could be a factor in her behavior. Parental attitudes and responses constitute important social conditions that, in turn, maintain and modify the processes, pathways, and outcomes of behavioral development (Chen et al., 1998). Moreover, in the girl’s community children, especially girls, are taught to not challenge situations and to go along with whatever the adult says. This may be why the girl will not even write her own opinions down, and is compliant. Additionally, the girl’s learning and behavior may be affected but the fact that woman in Afghanistan normally do not go to school and it is dangerous for them to do some. She may be scared because of this which may be why she will not speak out in class. Such belief by her society along with her parent’s expectations of her may be negatively affecting her learning. According to Chen et al., (1998) social behaviors valued by a culture may be reflected by parental goals, beliefs, expectations, and behaviors. The girl may be expected to act a certain way in school, such as not asking questions, as is the norm for the culture.
I might try and help the girl and her family by explaining the importance of voicing your opinion and how her thoughts could educate others. I would also address the girl’s inhibitions and work with her on those feelings. I would want to know how they came about and work with her to be more of her own person. I would work with the family and the girl on ways to be more successful in the school, and how she can get the most out of her education.
c) how does this example represent a global issue in terms of women's equality, and how do the difficulties women have in being educated contribute to the problem of global poverty?
The example represents a global issue in women’s equality by exemplifying that women do not have a voice, and are not valued like men. The lack of education offered to women in many countries is also a global issue. According to the United Nations, two-thirds of the 130 million children worldwide not in school are girls. This is a huge issue that needs to be addressed. Moreover, the global issue here is human rights.
Sen (1999) defined poverty in terms of lowness of income and also sees it as capability deprivation. This idea of capability deprivation is what contributes to the problem of global poverty. Women are not capable of much when they are not educated. Moreover, women not being educated leaves them with not many choices. SOLA believes that educating women is the most direct way to drive economic growth so not educating them will further global poverty.
a)
ReplyDeleteA way in which I would “handle" this problem would be by learning as much about her culture as possible in order to gain a better understanding of who she is and the ways in which her culture has taken part in shaping her. Through research and direct contact with this client, I could gain a better understanding of her. I could also understand how her culture might have taken part in her having certain struggles. An essential part to this process would be to interact with the client on a safe, personal level and to gain her trust/establish rapport. After this, I could work toward understanding ways in which her culture/background have affected her in various ways.
b)
According to Chen (1998), one of the problems that might be affecting the girl’s learning and behavior could stem from her parents. According to the article, “the social behaviors valued by a culture may be reflected by parental goals, beliefs, expectations, and behaviors.” If this client was raised in a household in a community that required for her to be compliant or subservient, it would not be surprising for her to behave in these ways in an academic environment, especially if she was feeling pressured/nervous to
perform well. Also, for parents from cultures that “often encourage their young children to stay close to and be dependent on them,” it could be very uncomfortable for a young child to be separated from his/her parents, which could pose as a major distraction.
The article suggests that behavioral inhibitions “may be a universal phenomenon,” which is concerning when one considers the negative side-effects that can result from behavioral inhibitions. When considering social functioning, according to the article, behavioral inhibition is “one of the fundamental dimensions of human social functioning.” This 10-year-old client’s social functioning and academic performance might be affected by her quiet, compliant demeanor at school.
As this client’s and her family’s social worker, I would like to help them by allowing them to articulate the ways in which their household and community run. I would also like to encourage the 10-year-old client to participate in activities that could serve as means to raise her self-esteem. For the client and her family, I would like for them to practice therapeutic techniques to allow them to have more opportunities to converse with one another and possibly establish more familial intimacy. This could allow the 10-year-
old client and her parents to help diminish possible overt feelings of compliance or subservience that she might be feeling as a result of her upbringing.
c)
This example represents a global issue in terms of women’s equality in that countless girls/women who are similar to this 10-year-old client and Shabana Basij-Rasikh have been deeply oppressed by their governments’ policies in terms of not being given the right to pursue their educations. To a high extent, women in these types of societies must depend on the men in their society to provide for them. Even for women who have found other means to attend school through attending “secret” classrooms or schools similar to the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA), the residual effects of their governments’ oppression can negatively impact them and their academic performance.
The difficulties women have in being educated contribute to the problem of global poverty in that in many countries, not being educated can be a virtual guarantee to be living in poverty at some point. Attaining a proper education gives an individual a much higher likelihood of learning trades, attaining a sustainable job, and supporting one’s self/family economically than not having an education does. Unfortunately, for women who have never been given the opportunity to attend school or have eventually been able to attend school, but do not feel worthy of receiving an education, they are likely to not be able to find a high-enough paying job to support themselves, so they must depend on a husband to do so.
a) First, it might be difficult for me as a male to meet with this 10-year old girl because of her cultural background. Since she is an Afghanistan young woman I would have to refer her case to a female social worker. With that being acknowledged, I will address the question without the issue of my gender interfering in helping this young girl.
ReplyDeleteBefore addressing her personal issues, I would begin by investigating and understanding the family structure and roles of men and women of Afghan culture (Hugman, et al, 2010). I might do this by reading various articles about her country of origin or seeking out someone who is from her culture who will give me first hand knowledge (Healy, 2008).
b) After gaining background information about her culture, I would set up a meeting with a competent female translator and ask her questions about the challenges women face and any significant changes in the culture. I would then have the female translator set up a meeting so we could have tea with the family in their home in order to begin developing a trusting relationship. Again, in many cultures before a social worker can help, developing an authentic relationship is vital especially when people from the West have had a history of colonization in Afghanistan (Hugman, et al, 2010). In her culture, helping would become a family affair. As a social worker I would model an educational paradigm rather than helping from a narrow individual psychotherapeutic process (Healy, 2008). My goal would be to use education in every way I can in order to shape the way the family views education. From the little that has been given, it would be best to meet with the family on a regular basis in order assess the communication patterns so as to provide the most effective means of support. The inhibition of the young girl might be cultural but it also might come from her unique family dynamics and the number of children in her family. Meeting with the family gives the social worker insight into structural family dynamics at work. For example, she might be the only girl in the family, or be a 10 year old who is a seer and hasn’t developed the confidence to put what she sees into words. In meeting with the family I would want to model good communication skills with each member in order to show them mutual respect. This will promote confidence in 10-year old. Even if she is quiet outside her home she will have the confidence to use her voice inside her family. As she develops, this confidence will emerge in other contexts, maybe through art or music or writing. Since every 10-year old is different I would try to draw out one of her talents and encourage her to exercise it. Since she is from a culture where females have “little or no voice” I would continue to encourage her parents to develop her educational opportunities through books and further the communication skills of all their children. Even though this child is 10-years old, she might not always live in her culture. She may have the opportunity to study or live somewhere else.
Thank you for emphasizing how important the family might be in establishing a relationship and helping this client. I think you are right in thinking that involving the family would help with a variety of possible reasons for this clients silence in the school setting. I think you also brought up a good point by suggesting arranging a meeting with this client in a setting where she is more comfortable than she is in school.
DeletePart c continued
ReplyDeletec) Something no one can take away from a person is knowledge learned that is hidden in their head and heart. Like Rasikh said, and what I have witnessed in Angola. People crave for education because they have seen war take away all their possessions. What gives hope to many refugees and people living in countries plagued by war, is the knowledge they carry inside of them. Education is one of the characteristics that give young people hope for a better future. Many young people in developing countries who lack education remain in poverty selling in the markets, selling their bodies, or doing menial tasks. International social work should be the catalyst for promoting social justice, human rights and the discrimination of women (Ahmadi, 2003). This is especially true in witnessing the inequality of women around the world. Global awareness in a postmodern society should lead to changes in social policy and social work programs around the world (Ahmadi, 2003). The quest for women’s equality in many countries is multifaceted. Issues of culture, religion, and roles in places restrict the mobility of women leaving them financially and educationally powerless (Gallagher, 2005. The role for international social works requires wisdom from various levels in order for future change to take place. Education not only from the outside but the development of social work programs in universities within these countries will be the key change (Healy, 2008).
A) Given that I know very little about the Afghan culture, I would first consult various community members to assess whether her behavior is even worrisome. If so, I would further consult with the community members and with available literature about how best to approach this situation. I would involve her parents in the decision-making process, but would emphasize one-on-one time with the child to allow her a safe space to speak. I would not want to do more harm than good through this process, as Donaldson (1996) suggests, so I would strive to ensure that all involved parties felt heard, understood and respected (Donaldson, 1996 as cited in Healy, 2001) through cultural humility.
ReplyDeleteB) To pinpoint the possible reasons for her struggles, I would meet with the girl one-on-one with a female interpreter. As exemplified in Half The Sky, many of the young women began to open up once they knew they were alone and were out of harm’s way. I would emphasize the importance of one-on-one discussions with the young girl because, as Chen et al. (1998) point out, many inhibitive behaviors are products of the parent’s child-rearing practices and aim to achieve cultural behavioral norms (Chen et al., 1998). Perhaps the expectations set by her parents cause her to be withdrawn. If this is the case, I would ask her if she wants to feel more comfortable in school, what might be able to make this happen and illicit her opinions about the situation, if possible. I would direct the conversation in this way because I would not want to make any assumptions about what should be done without her input. If she feels comfortable with it, I would include her parents in the conversation, so they do not feel like we are scheming behind their backs or feelings of the like. Also, her parents can be invaluable assets in her educational process, and it would be imperative that they feel supported while they support her.
Also, having heard Shabana’s account on her experiences, I would investigate any potential threats, either physically or emotionally violent, that this young girl might be afraid of. Perhaps her withdrawn tendencies stem from fear. If this is the case, I would devise a plan with her and her parents to reduce these threats as much as possible. I would also be engaged in community awareness efforts in the area, exemplifying hope that change in this arena is a possibility.
C) This scenario is a prime example of the global issue of women’s educational equality. It displays the issues of women’s societal-based fear of the consequences of being educated, the perpetuated societal norms of women remaining oppressed and expected to stay at home, that they should not be seen and not heard, etc.
Seipel (2003) states that the most effective method for reducing global poverty is education. Since women constitute 70% of the world’s poor (Healy, 2008), it only seems logical that the main focus should be to educate women. Education for women increases their autonomy, helps them provide greater security for their children, and can help them to realize the importance of health care. These benefits have ripple effects, and can spread to make the entire population healthier and wealthier. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (2009) provide us with countless examples of the power of education and the dire need for it across the globe in Half The Sky. Uneducated women often are unable to provide their family with expendable income, which perpetuates poverty in their family. So, when they are offered a job in a foreign city by a disguised trafficker, they eagerly accept it with the hope they can alleviate their family’s financial troubles. All too often, they then find themselves in the gruesome throes of prostitution, perpetuating the vicious cycle of female oppression. As Malala Yousafzai said in her speech to the UN General Assembly on July 12, 2013, “Let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism. Let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons” (Yousafzai, 2013).
I'm glad you began by saying that the social worker we need to ascertain if this is even a real problem, and how it reflects on the usual behavior of other girls in her cultural context. I think that is the most important thing here, and what I chose to focus on as well. When I was writing my response and again when I read yours, I wondered how far a social worker from the West should go in changing behavior that may be part of a culture. For example, if girls are taught to be withholding and shy, how far does one push the more Western approach on them? Women like Malala and Shabana are bold, but should the goal be to get every woman to that point? Or is that our place? A lot of rhetorical questions, but I think they become important when working cross-culturally.
DeleteI had the same thought as you...I questioned the extent to which I as an American social worker could (or should?) seek to change this clients behavior. I agree that this clients behavior is a reflection of her surrounding culture and environment. Additionally, personality traits such as 'reserved' or 'quiet' are not necessarily negative attributes. If they are significantly interfering with her ability to learn at school, they may need to be addressed. I feel that this client may need some time to adjust to the cultural shift that may be occurring in her family/community; she may be struggling with what is expected of her or the role change that may she may be experiencing. The fact that the girls at SOLA are even going to school is a bold move on their part; there shouldn't be a need to push them to be more outspoken or extroverted (as may be "typical" for Americans).
Delete"Patience and diligence, like faith, move mountains" William Penn
a) First, I would re-frame our cultural differences. Approaching it as a “problem” does several things. First, it privileges my role in the relationship with the student. Her culture is only problematic in that it does not mesh with the culture of the social worker. I would instead think of the unique perspective the student offers, and try to relate it to past clients or situations I have experienced. Of course, if I were asked to serve as a global social worker in Afghanistan, I would have done some extensive research to become more culturally competent in my practice. I would begin by allowing my knowledge of the local cultural to inform my assessment of her, and also discuss with the school's teachers and administrators how typical this behavior is for their students, and Afghan girls from her specific ethnic and religious groups. Only when compared to what is normal for her culture could I decide if this is a “problem,” or simply a shy girl that may as easily be found in an American classroom.
ReplyDeleteb) As stated above, learning about the cultural norms, and the specific environment of this student's upbringing are crucial. I may very well uncover in my research and time spent in Afghanistan that this situation is similar to those discussed in Chen et al (1998). Some cultures prize low-key, modest, and quiet individuals. The little I already know about Islamic cultures and their popular attitudes towards women and girls tells me that perhaps the ideas of Chen and colleagues are at play here as well. In her culture, an outspoken girl who brings attention to herself may be subversive, and viewed as misbehaving. However, if the other girls in the class are not having as much trouble with this as my client, I might try to search the more outspoken girls for resiliency factors, and see how we might use them to encourage my client to speak up.
c) It seems that this school's existence alone speaks to the global issue of women's equality. Shabana Basij-Rasikh started this school because there was a need for it. Her education was hard-won, as the educating of girls was once illegal in Afghanistan. With the shooting of Malala Yousafzai not far in the past, we know even in popular culture that this is still a problem in the world. It is popularly espoused that educating women, or giving them better economic opportunities, helps communities more than it does to give these things to men (Kristoff & Wu, 2009). Women will spend the money on uplifting the family from poverty, and will use their education to further the education of their children. If women are barred from doing these things, we are losing crucial foot soldiers in the fight against poverty and for development.
a) First of all I could try to “handle” the problem by learning and understanding about the Afghanistan’s culture & society and how the culture influence on forming the girl Healey (2008) I could as well present my role as a social worker to her, trying to create a confident and trusting relationship, positive attitudes , building an openness relationship, with the girl. I will be asking the girls how she sees her position in the family, in community life, considering where she comes from many Middle East countries have a highly patriarchal social order (Deif, 2005). As well taking in consideration her feelings, trying to understand what has shaped that behavior that she is shy and doesn’t want to speak, in the family environment she has never said freely what she she think about, or raise her voices for her needs, or take in consideration her opinion. It is very important for me as social worker to know the girl’s culture in this way to have a better understanding about her, and trying to help her on the best possible way. Culture can shape our view of the world. Many researchers have shown that people from different cultures see and perceive things differently and that is probably due to how their culture shaped the way they view the world.
ReplyDeleteb)One problem that might be affecting the girl’s learning and behavior are her restriction, what have shaped the shy and afraid behavior. According to Chen (1998) which emphasizes that children who are behaviorally inhibited they show more anxiety on facing new situations, which might explain the behavioral of the girl. Talking with the girl about her position on the class, how she feels there, what are the things that she likes or not, evaluating the relationship with her friends It would be helpful as well to talk with the teacher on the school to encourage the girl on the class, make to work with her on special group where she can feel comfortable and express a bit freely herself, and can help to find out some new talents and passions of her, as well to contribute on the raising of her self-esteem.
According to Rutter (1987) Permanent inhibitions is more likely to occur when multiple risks are present in a child's environment and when stressful settings endure as a feature of the child's life. They are several ways in which women are systematically discriminated against in the Afghanistan society like: the lack of personal autonomy, limited participation in society, disparate access to education etc. Women’s rights and emancipation must be understood in the ongoing universal struggle for creating a just and humane society. What is truly universal is “patriarchalism,” a system that treats women as second-class objects and subservient to male domination. Patriarchalism and women’s subjugation are clear manifestations of injustice and features of less-humane and unjust societies. Based on some research In the Middle East, the statistics of literacy amongst women are very poor. Women over 15 years-old have an illiteracy rate 42 percent when compared to men at 22 percent. As social worker I would propose to meet her parents of the girl as well, to know about what she think about the education of her daughter, how she evaluate girl learning, how much she is excited that the her girl is part of the school.
c) Education is one of the basic of human right and one of the most powerful tools, on development of society , against poverty and ignorance. Philosophers of all periods, beginning with ancient stages, devoted to it a great deal of attention. After watching the video, I think Afghanistan is one of the most challenging places in the world to be a women. If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a women, you educate a family(notion) generation. Afghanistan’s women must have access on education , education mean knowledge, is the right for the spirit, mind, and body and acting upon the knowledge.
c) continued
ReplyDeleteOn some researches it shows that many Afghan families will only permit their daughters to attend girls schools close to home and few such schools exist. Other families believe it is unnecessary for girls to be educated. Schools for girls have been burned down, hundreds of teachers educating girls have been threatened or killed, and girls and have been physically harmed while attending or walking to or from school. There is a link between poverty and education failure. If poverty in general does lead to educational failure does this mean that those children born into poverty are born into a vicious cycle, the cycle of poverty that they cannot get out? Children in poverty face greatly reduced education prospects and future life choices.
According to Seipel (2003) one of the most important ways to fight poverty is to educate the poor, since education opens up a wide range of economic opportunities for people. The example of Shabana Basij-Rasikhs are a clear illustration to understand struggle that lots of women face globally to achieve equality. From her speech we can understand that her father was a big influence and valuing the education process, but this kind of thinking is not universally in Afghanistan. It is a very sad situation to see the struggling and effort that those girl who are dreaming big are facing to be prevented by one of the basic human rights and of course raise our conscious, for helping in this frightening process.
: a) First of all I would try to get contact with her and in time I would observe her, where does she come from, what is her interests. I would try to understand from which background she comes from, what is her family and things like that. I would try to play with her, might be something with dolls or watch a nice movie for children or might be I would eat with her or draw something or something similar. I would like to ask what she likes, what not. I also would try to introduce myself might be by drawing.
ReplyDeleteb) In my opinion everything (family, community, culture, religious, history, social system, structure, policy, stereotypes, childhood, experiencies, country…) does impact in our lives. So it might these things influence girls live too. Firsly, I would try with getting contact with her (to build trust, relationship). Secondly, I would try to help her with learning, I also would like to communicate with girl’s family members, to see their lives condition, to hear their stories of the life. If they have more children might be that they want to let them go to school, but if they do not have money it could be a problem, so for instance I would try to help to get money for that. I think it would be important to find sponsors. I would like to build school for that kind of children and families with different kind of education also would be good to get money for higher education. And later on might be to encourage somebody to create or change the laws.
c) According to the videos and literature (articles) culture and family life influence children’s behavior a lot. Because family is the first example of behaviour for the child. Parents give a lot to their children from positive and negative sides. I was also reading about self-determination what is in some countries understood as community issue, in some countries as individual issue. So it really depends on where you live and what kind of experience you have, it depends your attitude and behavior on these things.
In countries where woman do not have opportunities for education it comes a lot of problems. And one of these multi problem is global poverty. Because that woman’s, mothers role play a great role in a family. It is very very important as a man’s, fathers role. When both parents are educated they can raise their children differently when without education. Education gives broader view, it helps to think critically, it helps to change things in a family, community, city and country. It really gives power for changes (empoverment), it also helps to think in creative way, it gives peace. Because of education and other things people try to find a peace, which is very important in lives. Educated people help to build the structure, systems, society that’s why it is very important. Well actually nobody can steal education from persons head. As Nelson Mandela said that “They could take everything away from me except my mind and my heart.” Education gives certain values, hope, dreams… Also woman who are not educated do not know their rights. It’s a big issue – human trafficking, infant mortality and other political and human rights.
Ruta Gerasime
a)In my opinion, the most important thing to do is to know as much as possible about the culture where, that little girl live. It would be very good if she, could tell more about her life and what problems she reach and the same age her friends, it would help to understand my client behavior. Conversation with her should be eye to eye in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. Also, I would talk with adult, who grown up in the same culture like that little girl and also to tell me about culture issues for women and girls.
ReplyDeleteb)One problem could be girls relationships with her father, how he talks with her, maybe he are used to shout at her all the time, that’s why she is so shy at school.
Maybe, girl is youngest child in family and parents are very old, so she all the time need to be polite and help others, that’s why she at school acts the same like at home and it is the reason why she is shy and quiet.
Also it could be that she has low self – esteem, and she is afraid to talk loudly and to express her opinion.
Relationships with others and social behavior, could be culturally affected. According to Chen (1998), Acknowledgement of differences in the adaptational meanings of inhibited behavior is consistent with the perspective that cultural norms and conventions may affect the perceptions and evaluations of social behavior.
As Hugman (2010) says, immigrant social worker who works not in origin culture may be constructed as inauthentic. That’s why it is very important to try to know and to understand clients from other culture, but to act in other culture appropriate way. Having this in mind, and trying to help little girl, I, like a global social worker need to be careful talking with her family, especially with her father, because he might not want to talk with foreign women, who are trying to intervene in their private life. It is very important to make a contact with client and to get family trust. Talking with girl and her family, by explaining, how important is to express your opinion loudly, because those who talk they have power and they can start changes in their lives. According to Heffernan (2006), authority comes from speaker, those in power have the means of using language as a way to preserve their domination. I would try to ensure safe environment in school, where all girls could feel safe and comfortable and could get education.
c)First of all it shows unequal woman and men status. Men have power and woman can’t get education, because in that culture isn’t appropriate that girls go to school, it is unsafe to go there, families are frightening not to let children go to school. Woman’s equality is global problem. In Lithuania also, in working places women get less money than men for the same work. It is thought that women place is at home, she must make food for husband who work and make money, but women are trying to realize them, that’s why they are seeking to get education, to be self confident and independent from men.
Poverty and education are related things, because poor people have more difficulties trying to get education. In Lithuania for higher education mostly students have to pay a lot of money, if you a poor you ability to get it is very small, unless you will get university scholarship. Universities are in big cities and lining conditions for poor students are big problem, that’s why there are a lot of young people, who graduate school and go to work and earn money. According to Sen (1999), being in poverty maces people feel social excluded and it influence physical and psychological health.
Egle Vosyliute
a) I think, the first step which will be very important to help this girl is to know her better. To have a contact with her, to speak about her values, needs, culture. secondly, I will try to find some interesting activity with her, to do some kind of art therapy for instance, or having a nice trip around the city, to visit some kind of museums or theathers, to show her other world, other culture, differently, for instance, than in Afghanistan. After this leisure time and activity with her, it will be much more easier to solve the problems that she have. I think it very depends on the situation and how she behave and communicate with me.
ReplyDeleteb) I think, first problem which can affect her learning and behavior, is her beliefs about cultural streotypes and inhibitions. Every country have a different culture, society and history. So, I think that speaking about famous scientists from different countries, it will show that every person have a right to have a good education and seek his/her career during this education. There shouldn`t be like a discrimination of gender, which can influenced person beliefs or his needs to the social learning or searching a job, for instance. In some kind of, islamic countries, there are such a structural violence and discrimination against girls and women, just for this reason that they are women. So they don`t have any rights or voice to speak (in public). In another hand, world is changing and society too. For instance, it`s a very good example to showing it this video, where Afghanistan girls are seekin their education and learning, how they want to be educated and to reach something in their lifes, not just being as a disriminated womens.
So, to know her better and to know her family, I, as a social worker, would try to convince, that evry person shpuld have a education and it`s not important is she is a girl, or he is a boy. There is now differences. We are all people, who have our rights and dreams for better life. Next step,what I would try to do is to communicate as soon as possible with her family, to speak about their culture, their history, values and needs, that I can understand them. The main thing of social work is communication, without communication, we can`t understand each other. it`s very important, to show people form different culture, which have their own stereotypes, beliefs and values, to show them other type of thinking, to realise the opportunity to have a better understanding of social world.
c) In my opinion, poverty can influenced women, as an adolescent, she may be required to have an early marriage and young pregnancy puts girls at risk of maternal deaths. The education of girls has been shown enhance maternal and child nutrition and lower mortality rates, inhibit the spread of fatal diseases like HIV/AIDS, and reduce birth rates. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, girls do not attend school because of reasons as simple as lack of decent sanitation facilities or the need to spend hours each day collecting water. For the millions of women living in poverty, their lives are a litany of injustice, discrimination and obstacles that get in the way of achieving their basic needs of good health, safe childbirth, education and employment. We live in a world in which women living in poverty face gross inequalities and injustice from birth to death. From poor education to poor nutrition to vulnerable and low pay employment, the sequence of discrimination that a woman may suffer during her entire life is unacceptable but all too common. In another hand, the education of women and children, especially girls, can create greater opportunities for women to lift themselves out of poverty and increase their social position. Countries with strong gender discrimination and social hierarchies limit women's access to basic education. Even within the household, girls education is often sacrificed to allow male siblings to attend school. An important aspect of capabilities is the freedom to make informed choices and have opportunities to achieve goals, and a basic requirement to actively use resources and information is basic education. This enables not only women to reduce household poverty, but as well increases children's chances of education, and enhances maternal health and freedom of movement.
ReplyDeleteRoberta Lazauskaite
a) Social workers should recognise and respect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the societies in which they practice, taking account of individual, family, group and community differences. We are social workers need to be open to innovation. Naturally, if we do not know everything about other cultures, but we have to observe and collect information.
ReplyDeleteBefore starting to work on this case, we should have some knowledge about the culture, what are the main features and etc.
I think it is important to understand the girls in the family history, traditions, etc. Also, keep in mind the environment that surrounds it. Of course, very important is what kind of values prevails in the family, which provides importance to family education.
b) Parental attitudes to certain things constitute important conditions for a child's behavioral development. Family has always been the first institution in the child's socialization.
The social behaviors valued by a culture may be reflected by parental goals, beliefs, expectations, and behaviors. Child-rearing beliefs and practices are important factors that may mediate cultural influences on child development. Inhibition may serve as a protective factor that buffers misbehavior under certain circumstances (Chen and other, 1998).
Social worker is very important to work with all client’s ecosystem. It’s micro, mezo and macro system. Social worker has to work with girl, her family and teachers. It is important to understand the family culture and values. All working together could be achieved better results.
c) Education is very important and should be accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, race or religion. Education helps people to improve and thus reduce the level of poverty in the society. education for the society goes forward, it does not stand still, and appear new technologies that may help humanity to survive. However, this case is a perfect example of the fact that education is definitely not for everyone and available in some countries it are hard to reach thing. This example, showed that there is still a big problem for equal rights. Women occupy a lower position than men.
a) First of all, ill try to get know better girl’s culture ,her belief, about relationships with her parents . The more try to go deep inside the girls world, her life. Then ill try to interact with it in an informal setting, to know her as a human person , as it is outside of school. I would try to gain the confidence that it has converted me to talk openly with me. When i get the girl’s confidence , ill make a multiple monitoring school order to see how it behaves in a formal setting, the interaction ( if communicating ) . Of the questions , I understand that the girl is very closed-type . ill try to bring a few people in focus groups. With the children interact with the girl . Ill make tasks like game process, that we should speak in that game . That the job is fun and children can relax . For 10 years childrenl also are learning by playing. As I understand , the girl's family had the experience of the oppression of the Taliban , because she did not go to school . Ill create a safe environment for children so that they could feel brave. Next, would be to increase the number of children in groups that girl try use to be in the larger crowd of people , as in the classroom .
ReplyDeleteb ) Her parents have feel Taliban oppression , when everything was forbidden , and the procedure was under the Taliban 's command. And should be accompanied by the parents, because they have an emotional trauma. They lived in oppression and suddenly they find out that there are free and can also be a trauma , because there is ignorance, continue to live , what to do . To retain their post trauma , the fear that can still happen every evil, behaved like if they wish, and not as required . It is also the girls school . Seeing a parent's fear, anxiety , the girl took over their attitude and lifestyle. Therefore, it scared to express themselves and communicate. Because as far as I know , women in Afghanistan near the Taliban era was very oppressive , had no rights , they were like nothing. Also the girl feels and school. It should first be engaged in with parents to treat their emotional trauma .
a) Firstly, I will try to understand that the culture of this girl is much different from mine so I can’t use methods, knowledge from my country, cause it is just not going to work because it was made in totally different society. First thing that I would do would be trying to know her culture better in order to understand the issues this girl are facing every day because of going to school, the rules, customs of the community she is living in. This would be necessary in order not to do any harm and to find the best possible way to help her.
ReplyDeleteb) First thing that would be a problem and could be affecting the girls learning and behavior is that Afghanistan dominated by the masculine culture for many ages. So it could be problems with her family. Maybe they do not realize the importance of her being at school or are afraid of the risk that this could cost for their family and for the girl. As the woman in the video has said, it is still risky for woman to go to schools in Afghanistan. For example, The Taliban is still opposed to education for Afghan boys and girls. They are burning down schools, killing students and teachers by all kinds of means, including chemical warfare. For example, in June 2012, fifteen suspects were detained by Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) "in connection with the serial anti-school attacks in northern Afghanistan." The NDS believes that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence was behind the idea. So I need to evaluate this as this could be the main problem. Maybe because of the pressure in the family the girl is afraid, feels stress and can’t concentrate during the lessons. Also, Afghanistan, tradition demands that girls marry before they grow up. For the rest of her life, a virtuous woman will stay silent, stay covered up, stay close to home, and stay out of sight. School after the age of nine is not usually an option. Maybe this girl does not want to study anymore because she sees no purpose in it and want to choose a traditional Afghanistan woman life. Maybe she feels the pressure of her family to do what tradition demands. I need to consider this as a possible problem that affects girl behavior.
In order to help this girl and her family, I would try to speak with the parents, the girl and try to find out what exactly is the main problem. If it is necessary I would try to explain the importance of this girl being educated and staying at school. I think I would use SOLA internet page words “At SOLA, students envision a future for themselves very different than their mothers'. They will contribute to Afghanistan's struggling economy. They will act as agents of social change and work to bring stability to the region. They will use their higher education to solve Afghanistan's problems, in infrastructure, in manufacturing, in telecommunications, in access to medical care, in the modernization of schools -- they will tackle the great undertaking of rebuilding a nation after decades of war”. If it is really risky for their life maybe I would try to find the secret ways to help if the parents agree. Right now it is really difficult to consider what I would do to help, when I never been in similar situation in my life. I think I would try to do my best but I would measure the risk of my actions really carefully.
c) This example shows that in some societies masculine culture is very deep and women do not have the same rights as men do. In some of the societies and cultures is no equality between men and women. Women who stay at home and has no education is struggling and facing problems that lead them to poverty.Kofi Annan (2000) says that those with less formal education tend to be disproportionately represented in the ranks of the poor, perhaps because they are more likely to hold poorly paid jobs or to be unemployed. Poor families often face enormous difficulties in keeping their children in school due to the costs, as well as to the pressure to have as many household members, including children, out working. The next generation, being poorly educated, could in turn end up holding similar poorly paid jobs. So global poverty is related with less education. Women with children constitute the majority of the poor in many countries. Where women can move out of poverty their children appear to face a brighter future, but where their chances are limited, poverty is transmitted intergenerationally. In many cases, girls have higher dropout rates as they are the first to be pulled out of school to help with household work and childcare. Yet, experience has shown that investment in girls’ and women’s education not only makes for greater equity but also tends to translate directly into better nutrition for the family, better health care, declining fertility and potentially greater economic empowerment. We can say that higher women education reduce global poverty.
ReplyDelete(A)
ReplyDeleteIt is important to work with all clients in a way that is most beneficial for that individual client. This would be particularly challenging when working with a client from a culture that is very different than my own because my usual ways of approaching a situation with a client might not be in line with the client’s culture, values, and goals. Although general knowledge of a country’s culture is important, differences exist between and within regions as well (Ahmadi, 2003). I would educate myself on the history of Afghanistan with a focus on women and education, and I would learn about the region my client is from. While keeping what I learn in mind, I would approach my client as a unique individual who likely does not adhere to all of the cultural characteristics I would learn about. I would be careful to not assume I know things about my client and would ask her to clarify and explain what her values are and what her goals are for our work together.
(B)
Family life can have a significant impact on a child’s behavior and learning (Bonta, 1997; Chen, 1998; Hart et al., 1998). Parental behavior—such as punishment orientation, acceptance, encouragement, responsiveness, and coercion—influences a child’s behavior (Chen, 1998; Hart et al., 1998). With this in mind, I would talk to my client about her family’s history to find out if other women in her family had received a formal education. I would want to know what her mother, father, and grandparents thought about the education of women and about my client attending SOLA, and I would want to know how the views in her family compared to those of the larger community in which she lived. In her TED Talk, Shabana Basij-Rasikh mentions some of the violence and threats that some students face for going to her school. I would ask my client about what she saw as the risks and benefits for going to school. Shabana also talked about her own childhood experience of attending a secret school and how, at times, she wanted to quit because it was difficult for her to look toward the future to see what an education would bring her. Similarly, I would want to know how my client feels about school now and where she wants to be in the future.
Bonta notes that a learning through cooperation rather than competition helps to foster learning (1997). I would want to learn more about conditions for a good learning environment to see if there is more that can be done at SOLA to help my client. I would then share what I learn with my client or with her teachers, if appropriate. I would want to have a conversation with my client about the barriers she sees to speaking up in class and about what makes her feel more comfortable and able to participate. I would hope to find a solution with my client about how to move forward to reach her educational goals in a way that she is comfortable.
(C)
This example represents a global issue for several reasons. First, issues in the education of women transcend national borders (Healy, 2008). Secondly, Shabana’s school represents professional exchange. Shabana gained knowledge from another country (the United States while she attended Middlebury College) and brought this knowledge back to her home country where she is addressing women’s issues (Healy, 2008). Finally, Shabana’s school and her TED Talk have international influence by bringing awareness to the issue of women’s education and leading as an example of a solution to the problem (Healy, 2008).
The issue of women’s education contributes heavily to global poverty. In countries where women are not educated, half of the population is left out of many business opportunities, upper-level decision-making, and other influential positions (Kristof & Wundun, 2010). Across cultures, it has been shown that when women are valued and educated, a population is given a greater chance to thrive (Kristof & Wundon, 2010).
A. As a global social worker, I think being culturally aware or “culturally competent” is extremely important (NASW Code of Ethics, 2008). That being said, one of the things key factors I would pay attention to would be observing the culture around her. Before speaking with her, I would like to know the roles played in her family by various family members (Hugman, et al, 2010). I have worked with adolescent female clients in the past and know it can be challenging to talk to them without having a solid rapport with them. I would try to build that rapport (typically through arts and crafts) and ask her what SHE believes is the reason she has difficulty speaking. I feel that getting an idea of what she may be feeling/thinking in addition to having knowledge about the culture she’s in will give me a decent grasp on how to handle this situation.
ReplyDeleteB. As mentioned above, I would broadly look into the family structure of the culture of my client, in this case a 10 year old Afghani girl. Once I speak with the client, I will have an understanding from the client’s point of view on why she is having difficulty. I would also like to speak with the parents and other family members of the client’s. This would be done in an informal fashion as to develop a trusting relationship with the family.
According to Garbarino (1996), the amount of stressors experienced by a child directly correlates with behavioral problems. Looking at the basics of the client; 10 yr old girl, living in politically torn Afghanistan where education for girls is dangerous, I could imagine all the fears going through this pre-teens head and understand why she may struggling. However, knowing that the client is going to school despite the danger associate with it; I would try to strengthen the family support system. I would so try to do some group therapy with the client and her peers. There are other girls her age in the class are probably also struggling.
C. This is one of many examples of gender inequality for women. It reinforces the idea that women should be in the kitchen and away from making any sort of decisions. According to Healy (2008), approximately 70% of the world’s poor are women. Seipel (2003) states that the only way to get out of the poverty is through education. For example, the Garmeen Bank in Bangladesh was made for providing basic human rights to mostly poor women in the country in 1976. Since in its inception, it has dispersed some 14 million USD to the communities (http://www.grameen-info.org/). Not only does it empower women but it is also beneficial for the community.
Seema,
DeleteI like the approach you would initially make in trying to engage the young girl, by utilizing her abilities through possible artistic expression. In working with children in my previous internship, I noticed a great deal of emotions and feelings they would portray through their drawings in regards to how they were feeling with their position within their family dynamic. In considering the fact that the child is enrolled within the school program, acknowledging the level of support she may be receiving at home is also a good way to bridge a cooperative stance in talking with her family, especially in a way that would instill trust, further promoting the environment as a safe space for open communication. By taking her environmental and societal stressors into consideration, your approach in understanding her quiet and compliant behavior shows a great sense of cultural competence in considering the limitations she faces. Showing a sense of empathy towards this, will allow for an understanding from a perspective other than your own, or that of any other social worker for that matter.
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ReplyDeletea) When taking on the role of global social worker I would begin by attempting to understand my client’s culture. I would look at history and environmental context that this girl lives in as well as how she views her culture. It would be very important to understand where she is and begin to work with her from there; this could include getting to know her through conversations and interactions to build trust and a relationship. Self-disclosure could also play a role in this relationship through helping to bridge the cultural gap by relating as individuals and connecting at a personal level. It would also be important for the client to understand that I am a resource for her in many ways and to begin to define my role and the relationship. This could be a long process and incorporated into the relationship building as well as brought up directly. The most important thing when working with this client would be to acknowledge my own cultural differences and keep in mind that her own culture can be vastly different from my own and shaped by her individual experiences; you would not want to define yourself as the other (immigrant women speak) but instead recognize that each person is their own cultural system.
ReplyDeleteb) Women’s rights movements are fairly new globally, and extremely new in Pakistan (gallagheral). “In 1995, a year before the Taliban takeover, [Amnesty International] also published a major report, ‘Women in Afghanistan a Human Rights Catastrophe.’ Now AI called all women in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan ‘prisoners of conscience,’… With this reasoning, all women living under versions of Sharica law that violated international human rights standards could be considered prisoners of conscience” (Gallagher, 2005, pg. 101). With such a recent and intense violation of human rights against women, it can be inferred that the society and culture has not completely turned around. As explored in the Ted talk, girls are not encouraged to go to school and even face the possibility of injury and death while attempting to do so. This would be an experience that the client would face on a daily basis.
The client appears to be exhibiting behavior inhibition “which reflects anxiety, an inability to express one's self, and a lack of confidence, is generally regarded as socially immature, incompetent, and psychologically maladaptive” (Chen, 1998, pg. 678). She has trouble expressing herself and her beliefs, which could be connected with a lack of confidence. Chen identifies that inhibition can be connected with cultural values as well as parenting style, which I instinctively connect back to the child’s environment and being a young Pakistani girl. Assuming that the client has experienced a culture reminiscent of when women were extremely oppressed and harmed physically on a regular basis, it can be assumed that she would not have been raised in a culture where her input was wanted or allowed.
Whether my assumption that the child’s behavior is connected to her culture is correct or incorrect I believe it is important to again address where the child is at before moving forward. Relationship building and trust would be important to establish before any real work or impact can be made. A young girl with the cultural background I am assuming would not be encouraged normally to speak up or voice opinions; it would not be natural for me to simply try to explain to her the value her opinion could have as that would be a cultural disconnect. I see this as being a lengthy process of trust building and empowerment for the girl.
(b continued): Working with the family as a whole would also be key; identifying the family culture and what the girl might experience or interact with at home would be important to identify what strengths and resources she has there. Since she is a young girl, parents would presumably care her for, and, as stated before, Chen (1998) connects inhibited behavior with parenting style. Working with the family and identifying their values and cultural beliefs could provide insight into the environment of the client as well as offer insight into an appropriate route for working through her inhibition to the point that she would be able to contribute in school and not miss out on educational opportunities because of shyness.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to note, however, that the client may not find her behavior to be problematic, so addressing what I and the school view as a “problem” should be taken only as far as to make the child comfortable and able to learn and interact with her peers without trying to change her culture.
c)This example begins to demonstrate how, even after structural barriers may be being alleviated, there are still social and cultural barriers in the way of women’s equality. The client had access to a school and resources, however she was unable to properly and fully use those resources because of the culture she was brought up in and its impact on her social functioning. The client was unable to speak up and voice her opinions, which could be attributed to a cultural value placed on women.
Women’s education difficulties directly influence the problem of global poverty. “One of the most important ways to fight poverty is to educate the poor, since education opens up a wide range of economic opportunities for people. Without an educated labor force, neither individuals nor countries may be able to compete effectively in the global labor market and cope with ever-changing economic environments” (Seipel, 2003, pg. 203). Women are widely uneducated, as we have learned throughout the course of the semester; with such a large uneducated population there is a great opportunity for economic growth that is being missed out on. When women are educated they put their potential to use and can come up with innovative ideas and businesses. Cultures that do not allow women an opportunity for education deny them the ability to be productive in society and a global market and their abilities and skills get hidden by societal oppression. If women were educated there would be a much larger and more productive society contributing to the solutions for global poverty.
Chen, Xinyin, Hastings, Paul D., Rubin, Kenneth H., Chen, Huichang, Cen, Guozhen; Stewart, Shannon L. (1998). Child-Rearing Attitudes and Behavioral Inhibition in Chinese and Canadian Toddlers: A Cross-Cultural Study. Developmental Psychology, 34, 677–686.
Gallagher, N. (2005). Amnesty International and the idea of Muslim women’s human rights. Journal of Mideast Women’s Studies, 1, 96-107.
Seipel, Michael. (2003). Global poverty: No longer an untouchable problem. International Social Work, 46, 191-207.
A.) As a female coming from a completely different culture than this client, I would first need to acknowledge that fundamental difference. I must recognize and understand my own feelings regarding this situation before attempting to assist this client. While "cultural competence" is a major component for a global social worker, I often feel that complete competence is not possible in most situation; rather, cultural awareness may provide a more realistic outlook. The first goal that I would foresee being accomplished is to establish rapport which allows for the development of trust; this development of a relationship will enable further interactions and changes.
ReplyDeleteB.) One of the most significant barriers to this clients learning relates to the societal culture she is living in. The education of women is such a new, and somewhat controversial, cultural advance in Afghanistan. It is difficult to envision that women could be threatened with death or even murdered for attending school. Based on Shabana Basij-Rasikh’s speech, she expressed the dedication and motivation that her father has in her attending and completing school. Her story was refreshing in that even within this heavily male-dominated country, a father wanted his daughter have an educated future and he worked tirelessly to ensure that she succeeded. This client’s presence in school suggests that her family is supportive of her education (which is a major strength!)
It is difficult to erase ones past experiences; this client has grown up in an environment where education for women was simply not an option. To suddenly have this option can require a major adjustment period. I feel the client’s quiet behavior and reserved demeanor can be her attempt to assimilate to this sudden cultural shift; she may be unsure of how to act or what is expected of her. A first goal of mine in working with this client would be to address the expectations of her attendance in school as well as her goals/desires/needs from the school; additionally, involving her family members can provide extra insight and support to help facilitate her learning.
C.) I really appreciate the idea that educating women is the key to ending poverty. Women maintain such an influential power within their own families and their own communities; educating women can only increase this influence for the better. An example of how education can impact a family (and community) could relate to an educated women waiting to have children or having fewer children. This seemingly simple maneuver can create less financial burden upon a family/community and allow for financial savings to occur that can lift a family out of poverty. Additionally, infant and maternal mortality rates may decrease if women are waiting to have children and/or having fewer children. These decrease in mortality rates can increase a communities overall wellbeing. Also, an educated woman can perhaps contribute more financially, emotionally, and communally. The education of women is a very future-oriented goal with the intent to better the family unit, community, country, and world as a whole.
Garrett provides us with five groups of instrumental freedoms that are necessary in helping to shape one’s social and economic environment in which they reside. I have chosen to reflect on political freedom. Being an American and having travelled to several under-developed countries I find this one to be the most crucial to one’s ability to progress within society and the one in which all other freedoms, economic facilities, social opportunities, transparency guarantees and protective securities, fall under. Political freedom, according to Garrett (2003) is, “the opportunities that people have to determine who should govern and on what principles, and also include the possibility to scrutinize and criticize authorities, to have freedom of political expression and an uncensored press, to enjoy the freedom to choose between different political parties, and so on” (para. 16). I am reminded of the political freedom that our fellow Lithuanian professor, Nichole, has spoken of. Hearing her stories of how Lithuania used to be run under a communist government and the imposition that individuals and families suffered are distressing to one that has always lived in a country with political freedom.
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago I spent 5 weeks living in China working in a foster home. This experience included taking the children to hospitals for care. I also spent several weeks this summer working with a variety of social institutions as I attended classes at a university in Bejing. I learned that China operates under a social political government. As such, the citizens of China have limited abilities to choose and act as they will. At one point I worked with a young girl who was attending a prestigious university. Her parents were teachers, highly paid and educated, which was why she was able to attend university and receive a higher education. At the time I met her she was applying for jobs and telling us how the process worked. Essentially she would be taking a job, know that she would be considerably underpaid, but would not be able to advocate for any higher pay. She would also receive the same pay as her co-workers, no matter what position she held, but she was aware that this would be typical of almost every work environment. We were also able to talk about the job hiring process in America and discuss other governmental differences between our countries which surprised her. She was very bright and intelligent and knew about the propaganda in her country but had no idea how to fight for political freedom as everything is scrutinized and monitored prior to being released or published. We discovered that the Chinese government also limits internet access, submitting their citizens to believing that the government viewpoint is the only correct one. It is with this political instability and lack of freedom that impedes the growth and development of the individual creating lack of social and economic freedom. In the event that one can choose their own profession and work for a salary, they then begin to flourish just knowing they had the freedom to choose for themselves!
a) handle the problem that your girl client is from a very different culture than your own
ReplyDeleteAs a social worker it is vital to be culturally competent and accepting of all the different clients we may encounter. When working with a client that is from a different culture of my own I would begin by doing some of my own research to get a basic understanding and background of where they are coming from. However, I would mainly work with my client to gain understanding because everyone is an individual and different even from within the same culture. I would probably begin by making a genogram together with my client to gain insight into how her family works. By doing this I can begin to see how her culture impacts her day to day life and how things are done within her family. It is important to talk with your client about what their culture means to them or how it impacts them. As a social worker you do not want to assume things about an individual’s culture so I think it is best to just be open and talk to your client about it. Even just being honest with your client saying I do not know too much about your culture would you like to tell me more about yourself. Children like to be the experts and tell adults things they know that adults do not so just letting the child inform you may be most beneficial.
b) Evaluate what problems might be affecting the girl's learning and behavior (family, community, for instance) and how you might help her and her family.
I would first begin by meeting with the girl individually and getting to know her and building a connection with her. Also, one of the things I would want to address first is any possible safety issues. As in the video educating women can be very risky and for the girl she may be nervous about the repercussions of going to school. I would want to make sure that she was not worried about being hurt or that her safety had been threatened in any way.
Additionally I would want to structurally look at the way in which her family works and how her family views education. I find it beneficial when working with children to get a sense of how their family works and what they day to day structure looks like. Chen discusses how the social behaviors valued by a culture may be reflected by parental goals and beliefs. The student may be acting according to how her parents have influenced her. Perhaps in her home she is expected to obey and not say much and that could be a part of her home culture. Perhaps at home she may have unresponsive parents which can result in more inhibited children (Chen, 1998). In her household it may be valued and expected of children to behave this way. It would be good to tease out why she is at school and how she feels about getting educated. It may be helpful to work with the student in figuring out different ways she can voice her opinion without completely deviating from her family expectations. Perhaps since it is hard for her to speak her thoughts and even write them I would work with the teacher in having other forms of evaluation. Maybe worksheets with various opinions and thoughts where you have to just check boxes or something minimal. Then you could work with the student on slowly elaborating on these ideas and potentially work towards expressing her opinion more openly.
Jennifer Niendorf
Jennifer Niendorf continued
ReplyDeletec) how does this example represent a global issue in terms of women's equality, and how do the difficulties women have in being educated contribute to the problem of global poverty?
In the video what really stuck out to me is when she discussed how the reason her father wanted her to be educated was because that was something that no one could take away. Even if they take your personal belongings, your home, etc the thoughts and ideas are always something that you can take with you. By educating women we can help take away global poverty by empowering them to make their own decisions about their life to better themselves. One of the difficulties in the high poverty rates is that the commitment to education is not valued in many parts of the world (Seipel, 2003). Educating the poor opens about economic opportunities, especially since the global economy is becoming more and more technological based (Seipel, 2003). If countries want to continue to advance their standing in the world economy they must have an educated work force to compete. By having an education women are able to gain better jobs and make a more livable wage.
a) First and foremost, it is important to note that being invited to serve as a global social worker is both a great honor and a great task. It requires commitment to learn a new culture, while also allowing the privilege of meeting new people. In this specific situation, I would be sure to have studied the Afghan culture prior to my arrival, as well as having planned to consult with the locals—both social workers and teachers. Through my own studies, as well as meeting with the locals, I would attempt to assess whether this client was truly displaying problematic behavior or whether it was a remnant of the fear from women going to school.
ReplyDeleteb) There are many different things that could be affecting this particular client, the most obvious of which is fear. Living as a 10-year old girl—and attempting to get a solid education—in Afghanistan is not an easy feat. As Shabana Basij-Rasikh explained in her TED talk “Dare to Educate Afghan Girls,” families take extreme risks so that their daughters may receive proper education. While it was incredibly moving to hear the drastic difference, and freedom, that has occurred since the Taliban has left Afghanistan, she goes on to explain that it is still a risk for many and women still do not have the same freedom to learn. With this being the case, it would not be a surprise for our young client to be scared. She could simply be acting in compliance out of fear that something may happen if she doesn’t. Another possibility could simply be her personality. Has she always been on the quiet side? Perhaps she is a quiet, courteous student, but also a quiet, courteous daughter. It would be important to see if her behavior in the classroom crosses over into other areas of her life. Yes, we all act differently in varying situations, but there is a part of our personality that will always carry over. A third option, which would require knowing more about her family, is that our young client does not want to disappoint. If this were the case, it would be necessary to work with not only our client, but also her family. It is important to know why our client is so afraid to disappoint—are there negative consequences that we do not know about? Could there be abuse? While the likely answer is that our client is simply a shy 10-year old growing up in a war torn country, it is important to investigate other options and make yourself aware of the whole scenario, as much as you can anyway.
c) This example represents a larger issue, as it is much more than just one 10-year old girl who is scared to go to school. It is an entire nation who must do so in fear. And this is not the only one. Unfortunately, education is not the only source of inequality across the globe. Women fight for various freedoms just about everywhere you go. Even in our own country women had to fight for their right to vote. One of the saddest parts of the discrepancy in education, however, is the social breakdown that it leads to. When women remain uneducated, they lack the knowledge to do more for their family. As quoted in Seipel (2003), “one of the most important ways to fight poverty is to educate the poor.”
a) In working with individuals and families within the field of social work, it has always been a highly valued expectation that we as social workers, consider where the client is in order to best understand their particular presentations. More importantly, in working within this profession, we are exposed to different people who come from various backgrounds with an array of cultural values dissimilar than our own. In considering this concept, the importance of cultural competence is a highly valued quality that needs to be practiced in order to gain a deeper understanding to those we serve. When considering the situation at hand with the ten-year-old girl, who is observed as quiet and compliant, the most appropriate approach in understanding her behavior is to examine the cultural norms that might be a contributing factor. Values within one’s cultural can stem from a number of sources whether it be religion, social expectations, and most importantly, the role of the family. Parental attitudes and responses constitute important social conditions that, in turn, maintain and modify the processes, pathways, and outcomes of behavioral development (Chen et. al, 1998). As the social worker in this situation, it would be most considerate to explore and research the cultural norms of this child, in particular, the expectations regarding behaviors that might stem from within the family system.
ReplyDeleteb) In gaining a better understanding as to why this young girl is extremely quiet and compliant, one has to consider the cultural norms within her country, particularly the expectations of how women are supposed to conduct themselves within society. It is necessary to consider the barriers women face within Afghanistan that are inflicted upon them by their male counterparts. The threats of social criticism, physical harm, and even death to those women who seek equality, along with the families who support them, are realities that these women face in seeking a higher education. By acknowledging the limitations women face in obtaining equalized opportunity and progressive means such as education, it is explicable as to why women may come off as docile and reserved.
In an attempt to help improve this young girl’s ability to learn and manage her behavior, two approaches could be considered in improving her experiences within the classroom. First, from a strengths perspective, it is important to acknowledge her reserved behaviors from that of a possible survival tactic. Social perceptions and evaluations of children’s behaviors may depend, in part on context for example, inhibition may serve as a protective factor that buffers misbehavior under certain circumstances (Chen et al., 1998). Being quiet and compliant are mannerisms that have been instilled in her in order to maintain her ability to live within the constricted society she was raised in. As Ms. Shabana noted from her own personal experience, she as well as her sister had to take drastic measures that would ensure safety from the Taliban by being quiet and reserved in order to continue to strive for the education that was withheld from them. Second, by recognizing the strengths in her behavior, it would then be appropriate to ensure her that the classroom would be considered a safe place to practice vocalizing her feelings and ideas. By acknowledging her reasons for being quiet and compliant, informing her of the cultural differences between both herself and the social worker can help guide her in becoming more comfortable in expanding her capabilities within the classroom.
c)This video clip provided a great example of the struggle that women are still facing when it comes to obtaining equal rights in regards to access to power and equality. Aside from it being just a gender issue, it expands greater in recognizing it as an issue of preserving the rights of all humanity. When the opportunity for growth by means of education is limited, a contribution towards the greater good for all is also limited and one-sided. The effect this has on the problem of global poverty is only enhanced when a strong contributing force in educating women is taken away. Sola’s mission statement put it well when it stated, “Educate a girl, and you educate and empower her family, her community, and in time, her countrymen. Educated women raise educated children who are better prepared to face challenge and become the next generation of leaders for their country” (SOLA, 2013).
ReplyDeletea)I would first learn as much background information about the Afghan culture, values, customs, and current political situation. I would learn as much as I could about her family, and community. I would observe SOLA, and become familiar with the atmosphere and culture there. I would meet with local experts, including social workers, teachers and community leaders. I would use all of this information just as a filter for any information I learn from this young girl herself.
ReplyDeleteb) As this is a boarding school, there is a chance that her family lives far away, which in itself could be a cause of her problems. If they family is available, I would first meet with them all, in the location of their choice. Hopefully it would be their home so I could see her in her own environment interacting with her family. Her inhibitions could be from shyness or insecurity, issues with her family, problems with friends, teachers, or a learning disability. I would be respectful of her and her family at all times, and carefully gain their trust. I would encourage her to express herself through talk, writing exercises, play, art, or music. I would work with the teachers at school to see if they notice problems in the classroom, and what they have tried to do to help her. Her presentation of being extremely quiet and compliant could be symptoms of abuse or trauma; it would be a delicate situation to figure this out. It would be beneficial if there were opportunities to meet without her parents at some point. Once I was able to pinpoint the cause of her problems, if there really is one, I would work over time to help her gain confidence and encouraging her to express herself.
c) According to Healy (2008), the increasing feminization of poverty is recognized worldwide. Women headed households are poorer in all countries around the world. Women’s poverty affects the lives of their children, by affecting their quality of their food supply, medical care, and housing. Women who attend school will make more money than those who do not. Women cannot be men’s equals until they can access the same education as men can, and be safe at the same time. Shabana spoke of her father said that they can take everything away from you, but never what is in your head, your education. Today, according to Global Issues, women often work more than men, yet are paid less, and women suffer the most poverty throughout the world. Yet education for women is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty, and has ripple effects within the family and across generations. Girls who are educated are more likely to marry later and have smaller and healthier families. As global social workers, it is clear that we should be advocating for an increase of access to education for women around the world.
Hi Jemma,
ReplyDeleteIn this answer of yours I like a lot that you have mentioned Social work code of ethics. Also I like the idea of yours that "It is also important to remember and understand that just because someone belongs to a certain culture; it does not mean that every person is that specific culture is the same." Me too think that it is really important to realize that cultures people are living in are very different and unique and we as global social workers must look deeper into this when we are trying to help our clients. Also you have mentioned that you would take ecological perspective to look at different systems that are influencing and impacting the client’s life. I think its a very good way start for helping.