SW A4 Module 2 JO 2425
SW A4 Module 2 JO 2425
Introduction
In this lesson, we will explore various theories and perspectives that
provide a foundation for understanding the social environment in social work
practice. These include General Systems Theory, Ecological Systems Theory,
Ethnic Sensitive and Culture Theory, Sikolohiyang Pilipino,
Strengths/Empowerment and Anti-Oppressive Perspectives,
Structural/Functional Perspectives, Rights-based Perspectives, and Gender
and Development Perspectives. Each of these frameworks offers unique
insights and tools for addressing the complexities of human behavior and
social interactions.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Describe the key concepts of General Systems Theory and its
application in social work.
2. Explain the principles of Ecological Systems Theory and how it relates
to human development.
3. Discuss Ethnic Sensitive and Culture Theory and its importance in
culturally competent practice.
4. Understand Sikolohiyang Pilipino and its relevance to social work in the
Filipino context.
5. Identify the principles of the Strengths Perspective, Empowerment
Approach, and Anti-Oppressive and Liberation-Based Social Work
Practice.
6. Differentiate between Structural and Functional Perspectives in social
work.
7. Articulate the principles of Rights-based and Gender and Development
Perspectives and their application in social work practice.
Eco-maps will vary in what they look like as each map will cater to the
specific client/family, and will highlight the stressors (negatives),
positives, and relationships.
Culture defined
Culture can be conceptualized as the shared beliefs, attitudes,
norms, roles, and behaviors transmitted among members of a group”
(Triandis, 1995, p. 4). Culture is the way of life of a society and life
patterns related to conduct or ways of behavior, beliefs, traditions, values,
art, skills, and social relationships. Culture perpetuates the sharing of ideas,
attitudes, values, and beliefs among individuals of that culture” (Lum, 2007,
p. 54).
Components of Culture:
1. Beliefs: For example, some cultures conceptualize health and well-
being as the harmonious relationship between individuals and the
spiritual world, among individuals and with the community
2. Behaviors such as funeral practices, birth practices, transitions to
adulthood.
Cultural Sensitivity
Cultural sensitivity, also sometimes referred to as cross-cultural
sensitivity or simply cultural awareness, is the knowledge, awareness, and
acceptance of other cultures and others' cultural identities. It is related to
cultural competence (the skills needed for effective communication with
people of other cultures, which includes cross-cultural competence), and
sometimes regarded as the precursor to the achievement of cultural
competence, but is a more widely used term than cultural competence. On
the individual level, cultural sensitivity enables travellers and workers to
successfully navigate a different culture with which they are interacting.
Terms
1. Ethnocentrism - means to apply one's own culture or ethnicity as a
frame of reference to judge other cultures, practices, behaviors,
beliefs, and people, instead of using the standards of the particular
culture involved.
2. Intercultural communication - is a discipline that studies
communication across different cultures and social groups, or how
culture affects communication. It describes the wide range of
communication processes and problems that naturally appear within
an organization or social context made up of individuals from different
religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.
3. Cultural Humility - Cultural humility, a process of reflection and
lifelong inquiry, involves self-awareness of personal and cultural biases
as well as awareness and sensitivity to significant cultural issues of
Cultural Competence
At the individual social worker level, cultural competence can be
described as an ongoing process in which the social worker deepens self-
awareness of her or his own culturally based beliefs, values, and norms that
inform his or her perceptions and actions in any situation. This process
involves developing awareness and knowledge of the cultural experiences of
others and strengthening skills at developing working relationships with
those of differing cultural backgrounds.
Sikolohiyang Pilipino
This idea of ‘shared’ self opens up the heart-doors of the ‘I’ to include
the ‘Other” Here, it is not important if you are rich or poor, or status in
society. ‘People are just people in spite of their age, clothes, diplomas, color
or affiliations.
Kapwa has two categories, Ibang Tao and Hindi Ibang Tao.
Ibang Tao ("outsider") There are five interaction levels under this
category:
o Pakikitungo: civility – right behavior meant right demeanor
towards authorities (Parents, Elders, etc.).
o Pakikisalamuha: act of mixing – This is a social value that is
primarily communitarian. It espouses the ability to adapt.
o Pakikilahok: act of joining – This translates to participation of the
entire community to help a person.
o Pakikibagay: conformity – This runs into conflict with individuality
which many Filipinos in fact willingly throw away in favor of
conformity with demands of those who are in charge.
o Pakikisama: being united with the group.
Hindi Ibang Tao ("one-of-us") There are three interaction levels under
this category:
o Pakikipagpalagayang-loob: it is the act of mutual trust
o Pakikisangkot: act of joining others
o Pakikipagkaisa: being one with others
Strengths Perspectives
evaluate the environment for possible barriers and impacts while assessing
needs and strengths.
Every person, group and community has the following qualities that can be
build on to enable them to reach their goals. Here is the Strengths Insitute
model, people have:
1. Competences, capacities, courage, character and
2. Promise, purpose, possibilities, positive expectations and
3. Resources, resilience, relationships, resourcefulness, resolve, reserves.
Strength-Discovery Questions
There are many different questions that can be used to discover internal and
external strengths. Nevertheless, strength-discovery questions are endless.
2. Support questions: Who are the people that you can rely on? Who has
made you feel understood, supported, or encouraged?
3. Exception questions: “When things were going well in life, what was
different?”
Empowerment Approach
It involves educating people about unequal and unjust social and
structural conditions and analyzing power relations with those who are
oppressed. Similar to strength-based perspectives supports client
participation in all aspects of the decision-making process affecting their
lives.
Useful techniques:
1. Consciousness raising
2. Collective efforts to challenge oppressive social conditions.
3. The effects of powerlessness, and the attainment of empowerment,
occur in three different levels:
Key Principles
1. Engaging in Critical Self Reflection - Writing on anti-oppressive
social work refer to critical self reflection, critical consciousness,
reflexivity and critical self-analysis, all of which refer to social workers
examining their own values in relation to others.
1. Self-awareness also allows for truly starting where the participants “is”
instead of starting where the social work might think they “should be”
2. Assessing Participants experience of oppression- Critical
assessment of participants intersecting identities and social locations
can provide insight into forms of oppression that the participants are
experiencing.
Structural/Functional Perspectives
Structural Perspective
Generally, the term structure refers to how the parts of any community
are organized to become one whole. Additionally, structure involves how the
components of the whole relate to each other. Although a bit vague, the
point is that there are many ways of viewing a community’s structure, three
of which
we identify here.
Power structure
A community can be assessed according to which of its units have the
most power and influence over what happens within it. For instance,
wealthier residents typically have greater power. It’s likely, then, that they
will exert greater influence over decisions made in the community than will
the community’s poorer citizens.
Functional Perspective
Functionalist theories emphasize a community’s purpose or function
and how that community can continue working to attain that purpose.
Gender Equity
Means giving more opportunities to those who have less and those
who are historically and socially disadvantaged based on their needs for
them to operate on a level playing field. “Focusing on the needs of women
Gender Mainstreaming
Is the Philippine government’s strategy for making agencies work for
women’s empowerment and gender equality. It is the process of analyzing
existing development paradigms, practices, and goals; assessing the
implications for women and men of existing legislation policies, programs,
projects, and mechanisms.
Women’s Empowerment
Is a goal of and an essential process for women’s advancement. Is a
process and condition by which women mobilize to understand, identify, and
overcome gender discrimination and achieve equality. Women become
agents of development and not just beneficiaries.
References:
8. Walsh, J. B. (2018). Theories for direct social work practice (4th ed.).
Cengage Learning.
9. Personal Notes