Engaging in Advocacy: Reflections from a Social Work Perspective

by | Aug 8, 2024 | social work

 

For some, advocacy might conjure images of speaking at acongressional hearing or soliciting petition signatures at libraryentrances. Yet, social workers engage in advocacy as an agent of socialchange in numerous ways:

Case advocacyWhen a social workeraddresses the lack of services or resources at the micro level, educatesthe client about available resources and programs, or fights forclients rights
Legislative advocacyWhen a social workeraddresses a policy gap at the macro level and provides information andsuggestions to legislators in order to close that gap
CommunityadvocacyWhen a social worker represents the needs of a community at themezzo level by engaging in group-oriented activities, such as holding atown meeting to educate the neighborhood about a particular issue theyare facing
Reflecting as a social worker, what are thebenefits to engaging in an act of advocacy? Are there risks associatedwith being an advocate? Do the risks ever outweigh the need to advocatefor what is just?

Throughout this term, you have been asked toengage in an act of advocacy. For this Discussion, you will reflect onthe advocacy in which you engaged and discuss both risks and valuesrelated to advocacy.

Post a response to the following:

Describe the advocacy in which you engaged this term.
Explain how the concepts from this weeks resources apply to the act of advocacy in which you engaged.
Describe potential risks that you considered or that may exist for a social worker who serves as an advocate.
Supportyour post with examples from the course text and any other resourcesused to respond to this Discussion. Demonstrate that you have completedthe required readings, understand the material, and are able to applythe concepts. Include a full reference of resources at the bottom of thepost.
Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.
Chapter 14, Advocacy (pp. 544570)

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

Engaging in Advocacy: Reflections from a Social Work Perspective

Throughout this term, I engaged in advocacy focused on raising awareness about mental health resources within a local community that has historically struggled with access to such services. This effort involved organizing a town hall meeting where community members could learn about available mental health services, share their experiences, and discuss the barriers they face in accessing care. The goal was to empower individuals and families by providing them with information and resources, ultimately fostering a sense of community support and reducing the stigma associated with mental health.

Application of Course Concepts

In reviewing Understanding Generalist Practice by Kirst-Ashman and Hull (2018), the concepts of case advocacy, legislative advocacy, and community advocacy were particularly relevant to my efforts. The town hall meeting reflected community advocacy, as it aimed to represent the collective needs of the community at the mezzo level. By engaging members in dialogue about mental health issues, I was able to facilitate an environment that encouraged sharing and education. The text emphasizes the importance of listening to community voices and recognizing systemic barriers that may prevent individuals from accessing necessary services (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018, p. 547). This aligns with my approach of prioritizing community input and addressing their concerns directly.

Moreover, I utilized case advocacy techniques by educating attendees about specific resources available to them. Many individuals were unaware of local mental health services, highlighting the critical role social workers play in connecting clients with resources. This aligns with the authors’ assertion that social workers must advocate for clients’ rights and access to services (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018, p. 551).

Potential Risks of Advocacy

While advocacy is essential for social change, it does come with potential risks that must be carefully considered:

1. Personal Safety: Advocating for sensitive issues like mental health can sometimes provoke backlash from individuals who may hold differing views or stigmatizing beliefs. In my case, I acknowledged the risk of potential hostility from community members who may not support open discussions about mental health.

2. Professional Repercussions: Social workers advocating for systemic changes may face scrutiny from employers or organizations that may not align with their advocacy goals. This risk is particularly salient if advocating against established policies or practices that are not in the best interest of clients.

3. Emotional Toll: Engaging in advocacy can be emotionally taxing, especially when confronting issues of injustice or witnessing the struggles faced by clients. The emotional burden can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue if not managed appropriately.

4. Impact on Relationships: Advocacy may sometimes create tension within professional relationships if colleagues disagree on the approach or issue at hand. Building consensus while advocating for change can be challenging but is necessary for maintaining a collaborative work environment.

Weighing Risks Against the Need for Advocacy

Despite these risks, I believe that the need for advocacy often outweighs potential drawbacks. The benefits of advocating for social change are profound: fostering community awareness, empowering marginalized voices, and influencing policy can lead to significant improvements in individuals’ lives and societal structures. As emphasized in our course readings, advocating for social justice is a fundamental aspect of social work practice; it is our duty as social workers to challenge inequities and promote positive change (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018, p. 570).

In conclusion, engaging in advocacy is both a rewarding and challenging aspect of social work. While risks are inherent in this process, the potential for meaningful change and empowerment drives the need for advocates in our communities.

References

Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hull, G. H., Jr. (2018). Empowerment series: Understanding generalist practice (8th ed.). CENGAGE Learning.

 

 

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