Sexual Orientation and Societal Discrimination: Developing Social Work Practice
Namso Umoren: 321492166
University of Southampton
Table of Contents
Chapter 13
Introduction:3
Chapter 25
Method.5
Scope, Origins and Limitations of Research5
Design6
Chapter 39
A Brief History9
Chapter 413
The Existence and Effects of Societal Discrimination13
Societal Discrimination13
Types of Societal Discrimination14
Direct and Intentional Discrimination14
The Effects of Heterosexism17
The Effects of Discrimination18
Chapter 520
Current Theory and Strategy in Combating Discrimination20
Chapter 622
Social Work Values and the Emergence of Critical Postmodernism22
Social Work Value: A Brief History22
Principle Based Approaches23
Critical Postmodernism24
Chapter 727
DEVELOPING SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE27
Discussion27
Recommendations30
Conclusions35
Bibliography37
Chapter 1
Introduction:
Despite a number of developed countries recently experiencing changes in legislation resulting in sexual minority individuals' rights being acknowledged and protected, the issue of sexual orientation is still under global debate.
'New York had neglected civil rights for gays and lesbians for too long. I'm putting a stop to it', he said. 'We have a duty to make sure equality exists for everyone.” His emotional investment in the issue was on display Thursday in a 15-minute speech that placed gay marriage in the historical context of slavery, disenfranchisement of women and shunning the disabled.' (Gov. David A. Paterson, cited by Peters, New York Times April 16th 2009)
There's growing tension in America over the issue of gay marriage after a new advert campaign targeting it, and a Miss USA contestant who spoke out against it during a televised competition.' (Blake, BBC News, April 21st 2009)
'Saving humanity from homosexuality [is] just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.' (Pope Benedict XVI, cited by Naughton, Times Online, 23rd December 2008)
With the issue remaining extremely controversial, it is unsurprising that societal discrimination continues to be a problem, even in the most progressive and developed countries.
The interest in this area stems from the author's personal experiences growing up in a society where sexual minority individual are within a conservative heterosexual family environment. In addition, the author directly had more experience having worked with a victim during one of his practice learning opportunities. The author have always observed victim struggling with feelings of a concealed gay identity, homophobic bullying, feelings of isolation and severe depression, followed by an array of negative experiences including reduced self esteem and bouts of self loathing which was unsupported due to the family being entirely unaware of the situation. In experiencing this situation and reflecting on the impact it has on the client coming through these difficulties, an ambition to better understand this subject matter, and find a way forward has led the author to the current interest in the exploration of sexual orientation, heterosexism and discrimination.
The structure of the paper therefore initially aims to provide the reader with a thorough insight into sexual minority issues through dedicating chapters three through five to the emergence, current existence, and effects of societal discrimination, ending with a focus on current strategies which are in place to tackle the problem. Subsequent chapters will explore the values and ethics of social work so as to firstly, investigate whether the profession's current critical post-modern approach to social work education could assist in the reduction of societal discrimination and secondly, ...