re-socw6051-week-7-discussion-response-to-kimberly

SOCW6051 Week 7 Discussion Response

Respond to at least two colleagues with recommendations of what skills social workers might employ to separate and/or reconcile personal values with professional responsibilities in the scenario presented. Discuss how the barriers to services identified by your colleagues can be overcome by a professional social worker working with LGBTQ clients.

Response to Kimberly

Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (King James Bible Online, 2017). Many people regardless of their religion, grew up reading, living, and believing that marriage is between a man and a woman. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage is legal in all states, including Washington D.C. (Wikipedia, 2017). Same-sex marriage should now have the same rights as heterosexual marriages, but when it comes to adopting children, same-sex marriages have more difficulty due to prejudice against their sexual orientation (McCoy, 2006; Stone, 2006, as cited in Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2016). One’s faith could be the greatest conflict when counseling or assisting same-sex married couples with adoption and raising children.

Some personal prejudice same-sex marriages could experience from those who are homophobic are: the same-sex married couple are psychologically disturbed; therefore, they have the potential to psychologically disturb and/or confuse their child; they contradict the “laws” of nature; they are spiritually immoral; disgusting [such a cruel word] (Blumenfeld, 2013). Besides my faith, my personal prejudice would be the psychological well-being of the child; the peer-pressure of the child being teased for having two mommies or two daddies; perhaps the confusion the child develops in not understanding the union between a man and woman. Professionally, integrity is what I stand on. My personal beliefs do not intertwine with my professionalism regardless of who or what someone chooses to be. All focus is on the best interest of the client and being a positive advocate. At the end of the day, psychological disturbance can occur with a child whether parents are same-sex or man and woman.

As professionals, focusing on the negatives, the what-ifs, the phobias of society and even oneself phobias, can create barriers that prevents the ability to achieve responsibilities to the LGBT community and same-sex parents:

  • Limitation to building relationships with a percentage of the world: colleagues, family members [everyone has gay or lesbian family members], and connection with community resources.
  • Limit opportunities to learn from, teach, and have an impact on a population with who you might not otherwise interact (Evans & Washington, 2013). Limitation prevent professionals from helping same-sex parents teach their children how and when it’s appropriate to discuss prejudice and discrimination from peer pressure.
  • Being narrowminded can cause a blockage to identifying deeper issues with a child i.e. child is withdrawn because they don’t understand home conversations versus family discretion at school.
  • Barriers limit professionals from teaching children that everyone is unique regardless of their sexual orientation and everyone will have their own ideas and beliefs on what is right or wrong, but ultimately, you are your own decision-maker.

References:

Blumenfeld, W. J. (2013). How homophobia hurts everyone. In Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W.

J., Castaneda, C., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., & Zuniga, X. (Eds.). Readings for

diversity and social justice. (3rd ed.). (pp. 379-387). New York: Routledge Press.

Evans, N. J., & Washington, J. (2013). Becoming an ally. In Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W.

J., Castaneda, C., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., & Zuniga, X. (Eds.). Readings for

diversity and social justice. (3rd ed.). (pp. 379-387). New York: Routledge Press.

King James Bible Online. (2017). Bible verses about husband and wives. Retrieved from

http://kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Husband-And-Wife

Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the

social environment. (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

 
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