Social Work

    Much ado is being made these days in the world of social work education about culturally competent practice, and, at least among academics in the field, a great deal of emphasis is being placed on embracing cultural diversity in all it's forms.  However I fear based on the texts chosen by, and the lectures given by some of my social work professors that the pendulum is starting to swing too far the other way.  It appears that the old analogy of a 'melting pot' as a descriptor of America has fallen out of favor, and been replaced with the "tossed salad" metaphor.  I understand the reason for the pendulum swing: certain members of the dominant culture (a culture predominantly of western European roots) are concerned that they are potentially destroying the minority cultures (i.e. the non-dominant cultures) that exist within the borders of the United States. 

    What I think many of these academics fail to appreciate is the very vital need for all of the diverse groups within the borders of a particular nation state to assimilate into and adopt one unifying national culture--at least in the public sphere; however I would encourage culturally diverse groups in the United States to continue to practice and maintain their  own unique cultural heritage in their private spheres.  In the most extreme case, without a single unifying American culture with which all groups can indentify and call their own, we risk descending into factionalism and becoming little more than a continent populated by countless tribal groups delineated by culture, and who just happen to all be living within the borders of the former United States.  However less extreme cases of factionalism can still tear this country apart, even if it doesn't destroy it outright.  Cultural competence is essential for both the generalist and clinical practicioner, but an over-emphasis on diversity may lead to a mindset whereby members and groups of society focus on how they are different from one another, rather than how they are the same.  In my estimation focusing on our differences, rather than on our similarities is a recipe for more the social strife we have seen for the last one hundred years--and beyond.  

Greetings and salutations! :P  My name is Chris.  I am social work graduate student at a university in Florida, and this is my blog.  I created this blog as a dedicated space to discuss social work and mental health issues and practice.  It may not be exclusively social work all the time, but I'll try to keep the theme going.  I will be  writing of my experiences and the issues I confront as I progress through graduate school and beyond.