Niña Lavado Belas BSSW 2B
Social Change and Development Perspective
In Social Work profession, social workers utilizes different and broad perspectives to
address client problems through a research-based lens. It helps them better understand
complex human behaviors and social environments, which influence their clients lives and
problems. It aims to help people develop their skills and their ability to use their resources and
those of the community to resolve problems. Social work perspectives draw from psychology,
philosophy, economics, education and other fields to attempt to explain what drives and
motivates people at various stages of life.
One of these is the foundational perspective of Social Work, Strength-Based
Perspective. It focuses on peoples strengths, ability, skills, and talents rather than their
shortcomings and weaknesses. It maximizes their potential and shift the focus on what you can
do. It is also the ability to see the beauty in something that other people perceive as a horrible or
depressing situation. This perspective relates to me in a way that it made me focus more on my
strengths and abilities than my failures in life. For someone that drop out two times in my senior
high school and live a stagnant lifestyle for years, it has been a challenge for me to go past of
what happened to me. Strength is a simple word, yet it can bring a life-changing lesson. In my
journey of being a social work student, it did help me a lot in changing my mindset and redirect
my thought and focus. It made me realize that focusing only in your weakness will overwhelm
you and will get you nowhere. Rather on dwelling on what takes place in my life and sees
myself ass a failure, it became my fuel to do my best and see it as an opportunity to redirect my
dreams and goals in life. Strength Perspective has its significance in the Social Work profession
for it tap on peoples ability and draws out from people the best in them. It helps us reconnect,
appreciate, and find meaning again in life. It allows the social workers to recognize that people
have their strengths and resources amidst the challenges and situation that feels like there’s no
hope. Likewise, it helps and strengthen the individual to socially function again.
Another perspective that is greatly utilize in the Social Work profession is the
Empowerment Perspective wherein, it helps to build individuals autonomy and have their own
choice and voice out what they need. It gives you back the power that rightfully belongs to you,
like the right to education, right to life, right to vote, and to name a few. It serves as a support to
the voiceless and to the oppressed both in individual and collective level. The goal of this
perspective is to enact change so that a better future can take place in someone’s life as well as
in the society. In relating this perspective to me personally, I remember my old way of thinking
and interacting with other people. I am the type of person that just follow what other says or
dictates me, though it was not what I want and I can hardly say no. A people pleaser type,
because I was afraid to be seen alone and would not be able to fit in with others. For a long
time, I viewed the concept of saying ‘no’ to others as selfish and bad. My self-confidence was
just below the level and somehow I have lived like that as far as I can remember. Although I
already got the chance to go past that passive behavior of mine before I have the chance to
encounter this Empowerment Perspective, still this solidify my stand and of course with a good
intention. It also made me realize that being independent is a must have character than just
relying on others, in both tangible and intangible aspect of life. In this way, you would not be
able to give others the chance to oppress or coerce you into doing something against your will
and leaving you no choice. This perspective significance to our profession is allowing the social
workers to recognize what is blocking these individuals or groups from thriving and why are they
being hindered. It also allows the social workers to educate the marginalized people as well as
the society of what needs to be done and advocate awareness in regards to these issues that
hampers the specific individuals or groups. These promotes inclusion and collective action to
the betterment of society.
Another pivotal perspective in the Social Work profession is the Diversity Perspective.
This perspective allows us to better understand diversity among and within an individual, group,
and societies culture. This is to embrace, respect, and appreciate them regardless of their
ethnicity, race, origin, religious beliefs, sex orientation, skin color, nationality, language, to name
a few. This perspective makes me more understand that I should have a broader mind in
viewing people and their experiences in life. In all honesty, I was somehow a close-minded
person before, I was in great lack of empathy. In movies, I hated villains without further knowing
why they act like that, I easily judged people when they do not fit the criteria of a “good” person
based on what the majority says. Before, I do not really understand why students cut classes,
why they do not study well (not knowing what is like to be in their shoes or what environment
they have), what is the reason why they would drop out of school and such. I was also
questioning and judging before why there are beggars on the street and the indigenous people
who roam around the city. I was not even aware that they do exist, that tribes really do exist and
has some peculiar and astonishing way of life and beliefs. I was not even aware how diverse life
experiences and how diverse people could be. This made me realize, that before I can accept
this diverse and unique characteristics of people and their experiences despite of the
commonality, I must accept first my unique traits, origin, influences, life history, and my own
experiences. To be aware of my own uniqueness is to be aware that every individual is unique
and diversity do exist. It has a great significance to the Social Work profession for it is a great
help in dealing with different individuals and their diverse kind of issues and challenges. This
perspective will help us to be aware in allowing different voices and perspectives to be heard. It
also enable us to be culturally competent and be an effective social worker. By having some
understanding and sensitivity on how diverse individual and culture can be, social workers can
also help others learn about different views and perspectives which can promote inclusion and
better understanding of this world that we live in.
In conclusion, these different perspectives that are utilize in the Social Work profession
are not merely terms or jargon use by the practitioners. They have realistic impacts on the life of
people, they help both the social worker and the clients and individuals that they assess or have
in contact with. It guides and enable the social worker to understand and take rightful action for
that individual or groups to be socially functioning again.