4 // Working our way around the problem
We fear what we don't know
The unknown is scary. Especially when it seems like it could come at the cost of your own child's education. I don't have kids yet but I can see how frustrating it would be if you lived in a prosperous community and the your schools didn't receive the full funding that they had previously earned by high pass percentage and other metrics. You probably moved to that community in hopes of benefiting from the excellent schooling. Perhaps you chose this area because your child has some learning disabilities and the smaller class sizes are more advantageous for their learning. You feel like you worked hard for your money and you want your child to have the best instructors to really foster a love of learning so that they may "succeed in life". The reduction in funding (to support other schools) effects the band budget and your child doesn't have access to go to the larger competition where they might be seen by colleges. Maybe the football team can't afford that coach who was going to make your child into a college athlete. It is natural to understand why a parent would be very upset that their child is being "robbed" of the amenities and opportunities you strategically fought for.
The reality is that your privilege set you up to "build this life all on your own".
In fact you had opportunities that others didn't. College for your children is an expectation not necessarily an aspiration- and that is your privilege. But I think that it is really good to understand the perspective of the other side. To understand why when you are fighting for children to be fed, that you are receiving a backlash of people's hatred. Children needing food to be nourished and to have the biological ability to be present in classes is a HUGE issue.
When I first read about cultural competency, I was reading it thinking about other nationalities and cultures. Now, I am actually thinking about that model in reference to middle class America. We need to be aware of our own biases and generalizations we put on both political party members. Social Workers can greatly benefit from taking a step back, table the fact that you feel like these people don't want to feed starving children, and try to understand their history. Keeping yourself from arrogantly believing that you know that already just because you grew up in it.
I can bet that your experience is totally different than mine- as such and so forth for our parents own individual journeys.
If we can foster trust with the middle class community I think we could provide a safe platform for change. We should seek to understand and sympathize with what they feel like they fought for and are in risk of losing. If we can change their disposition away from defensive I am confident that the majority would not have a problem with feeding an nurturing these children in need so that they also might have an opportunity to grow.
In light of the disasters in our country over the last few months and even days, it is always interesting seeing how we come together as a community. Almost as if it is a natural response to care for those in need. I wonder if it is possible, to present these difficult issues in a way that brings us together instead of divining us. How can we effectively change perspective to allow us to fight on the same team?
Calzada, E. (2014). Enhancing Cultural Competence in Social Service Agencies: A Promising Approach to Serving Diverse Children and Families. OPRE. Retrieved from www.acf.hhs.gov/opre.
Hi Amy! I really like your words “We need to be aware of our own biases and generalizations we put on both political party members. Social Workers can greatly benefit from taking a step back, table the fact that you feel like these people don't want to feed starving children, and try to understand their history.” I agree that sometimes we think people don’t support funding for things, or simply don’t agree with us, because they are ‘bad people’ or ‘uncaring’ or ‘selfish.’ It’s so important to remember that people are so influenced by their environments, and that no one gets to control what they are socialized to believe. Obviously, people need to be held accountable for their biases, but patronizing and attacking people first thing is never a way to bring about that accountability and thus, tangible change. Especially when our country seems so divided, I think it’s great to lend a hand across the table and look at others for what they are—humans, with ups and downs, interests, and stories and reasons. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sums it up quite well in his quote: “If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should fin in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” Moral of the story, keep people’s humanity in mind before you condemn them. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful words, Amy, they were great to read and I can’t wait to read more of what you have to say later on.
ReplyDeleteGreat work, Amy! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and reflections about privilege and cultural competency. As social workers we can help bring people together, and I challenge us all to think about how we can do this personally and professionally. Thanks for your thoughtful response, Madeline!
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