Elder abuse is important too!

By ElderAbuseAdvocater

Before coming into this degree elder abuse was not an issue I thought much about. When someone mentioned elder abuse, my mind went toward physical abuse cases I heard about in care homes, however not much beyond that. To me it seemed like an issue that was present but not talked about a lot in the community. Now coming to the end of the degree, my perspective has changed significantly and I have become more informed about the issue.

Media representation and social work

By AnonSW

*This is purely based on observations and personal experiences.

Media representations serve to re “present” or to create a new reality (Te Kete Ipurangi, 2020). Social work does not always get the media representation it wants. The reality is that it tends to get more negative than positive attention. Whilst social workers do their best to protect vulnerable and marginalized children or groups, the media would still have individuals blaming social workers for not being able to protect our young tamariki. Due to many years of biased representation of social workers working with families, it is normal to witness negative comments and critics from the public. When there is positive news being highlighted this tends to be overlooked by the majority.

Modern day Islamophobia

By Ruby

Imagine waiting for an elevator alone, and you see two women approaching you. One is wearing a burka, and the other is wearing a hijab. They push the button for the 3rd floor and wait with you to enter the elevator. How do you feel? What’s going through your head? Do you feel as though she is oppressed and has no freedom of her own? That she has no control and decisions over her body? Or do you panic and immediately become instilled with fear? Are you afraid that she’ll bomb the elevator?

Unconsciously choosing your privilege in social work

By Poly pantheress

More too often I find myself gazing into the distance, reflecting on where my journey as a social work practitioner will take me. At times wondering about what stance I will take in this often risk-filled and stigmatized profession. My first placement made me realize just where I, a brown and proud Polynesian, would fit or am needed; and that is advocating against a white system in which other brown, Pasifika and Maori whanau are over-flooding in our welfare systems.

Being comfortable with the uncomfortable

By Suzie Q

Reflecting on the past four years of studying social work the lessons I have learnt are vastly different to what I envisioned they would be when I first began this journey. I once aspired to become the all-knowing expert; what I believed at the time it took to be a good social worker. Now as I near the end of my degree I have come to believe the inverse of this, the mark of a good social worker is the acceptance that we cannot know everything. When it comes to other people’s lived experiences it is our compassion that drives us to understand that is the true virtue of our profession. In my own education this shift in motivation has been a result of reconciling with my own privilege being white-passing, learning to become comfortable in the uncomfortable.

Moral panic and Pasifika issues in Aotearoa New Zealand

By Tino Manea

 

“I mean, it’s the Pacific Islands. What are we going to get out of them? They are nothing but leeches on us. I mean, the Pacific Islands want money from us. We don’t need money from them.” (Heather du Plessis-Alan, 2018)

Could it be that if Pasifika people are not scoring tries for the All Blacks, have non-association with crime, become more motivated to contribute to a capitalist agenda, or not become overly dependent on Palagi support, they’re entitled to being labelled a ‘Kiwi’? Pasifika people have been migrating to New Zealand (NZ) since the 1960s and have faced discrimination since migration. Being brought over as labour mercenaries, the ‘othering’ of Polynesians has subordinately positioned them, like the Māori natives, as the ‘minority groups’.

Social work: Domestic violence, mother blaming and patriarchy

By JP

For a long time, much of the parenting responsibilities have been placed on the mother. Even now when the roles of the parent are seemingly starting to become equal, it does not reflect the truth. Fathers are seen to have a more intimate parenting role, rather than the intensive one that the mother has (Shirani et al, 2012). Mothers are seen to have the capability to have complete control over their child’s life and how they will grow up to be. This pressure of mothers is further cemented by ideas such as “maternal instincts” and the image of an “all sacrificing mother.” They are seen as having the innate ability to be the perfect parent. One of the points about such discourses is that mothers are not the only ones negatively affected by it. It also undermines the capabilities of fathers (Mulkeen, 2012).

Guns N’ Roses

By Axl

Poem

Welcome to the jungle, where there’s guns at play

Welcome to the jungle, where bullets have no name

Welcome to the jungle, trigger happy fingers like to dance

Welcome to the jungle, where police are heavily armed

Welcome to the jungle

Welcome to the jungle

Welcome to the jungle.

You would think that I’d be desensitized by now. Unfazed by the blaring sound of an assault rifle propelling bullets at 1000 miles per hour. As far back as I can recall I have been playing video games that promote heavy gun violence. My whole life I have romanticized the idea of being the ‘modern heroic figure’ that is portrayed on the silver screen. One who does not save the world by a wielding a mighty sword, but by toting a gun with infinite ammunition. Sadly, I am far from desensitized.

The privilege walk

By Anonymous

A Privilege Check

In my first year as a BSW student, I participated in a simple but profound class activity. Students were asked to stand in one straight line facing the lecturer, who would then ask us several questions. We were instructed to take a step forward or back depending on whether we felt the question applied to us or not. Some of the many questions included: “If you lived in a home your parents owned, take a step forward”; “If you were discouraged to study at university because of your race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, take a step back”; “If you lived in a home with more than 50 books, take a step forward”. The activity was easy, but the questions were unsettling. It was my first time ever checking my own privilege. Before I knew it, I had taken many steps back. I soon felt the reality of being an under-privileged individual compared to those standing in front of me. What does this mean?

Racial prejudices and Kiwi culture

By the equilibrist

Well, I had my whole blog typed out and scheduled to be sent early, and I sat down on my bed, sipping a warm beverage, listening to the finest and most-welcomed raindrops bouncing on my roof while enjoying the scenery of the clouds forming over the bush canopy… and then riots erupted in America. I suddenly became the grumpiest person in my household. After a weekend spent on processing another infuriating act of racism, it simply felt frivolous to keep my initial paper given the evident relatedness of this event to the context of Aotearoa. Just for you to know… I am going to be critical before drawing from the ‘kotahitanga’ ethical principle we uphold as a professional body to counter-balance systemic injustices and racism.