Social Workers & Multiculturalism

The second part of the question seeks to determine whether multiculturalism has the potential to foster racial/ethnic stereotypes. As Burlingame (1999) suggests, social work that stigmatizes differences or anticipates that generalized ethnic and racial differences are applicable to all clients or to specific clients errs and fails. In the former instance of the necessity of recognizing and focusing on multiculturalism, the answer is clearly "yes" and in the latter case (of whether or not such a focus can lead to stereotypes and stigmas) the answer is a qualified "possibly."

The United States is a society diverse in terms of culture, race, ethnicity, religion, and income. It is also, as Schmitz, Stakeman, and Sisneros (2001) claim, a society struggling with a past involving oppression, inequality, and buried knowledge. Social work professionals should and must educate themselves about the many strands of American history, grow to appreciate and enjoy multiple cultures, races, and realities, and recognize the consequences of current and historical oppression. It is ultimately impossible to addres

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is description do not "present" to social workers with a "typical" set of characteristics; they may not be deeply tied to a church, have an extended family support network, or have pressing financial needs. As Martin-Combs and Bayne-Smith (2000) suggest -- and as Burlingame (1999) agrees -- generalizations based on race and ethnicity are at best a set of guidelines as to what some (but not all or necessarily even most) members of the racial or ethnic groups are likely to experience. Gibson and Stoller (1998) caution social workers and other gerontologists that it is necessary to abandon all stereotypes in both research and practice activities. Often, the move to become culturally sensitive and to respond to cultural realities with dignity and objectivity results in what these researchers call the "objectification" of older minority clients. The increasing demographic diversity of the aging population portends an increasing diversity in the attitudes, behaviors, and resources of newer cohorts of elderly. In other words, within the "African-American" elderly are many disparate subgroups that possess different characteristics, histories, attitudes, and beliefs. Older African-Americans will have experienced life differently ba
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Gibson Stoller, Hyduk Moxley, , Stakeman Sisneros, Martin-Combs Bayne-Smith, Security Medicare, Volland Howe, Tran Dhooper, Gerontological Social, Dhooper SS, racial ethnic, race ethnicity, social workers, social worker, ethnic racial, burlingame 1999, stoller 1998, gibson stoller 1998, gibson stoller, journal gerontological social, gerontological social, african-american women, racial ethnic stereotypes, gerontological social 341, berkman silverstone simmons,
Approximate Word count = 1560
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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