White Privilege and Clinical Social Work Practice: Reflections and Recommendations

Shame and Social Work Students: A Qualitative Interview Study

“…Inequalities on the basis of race, gender, sexuality and others factors of our identities are profound and far-reaching. Such disparity impacts access to housing, employment, and health care to name a few (Davis & Gentlewarrior, 2015). In fact, some studies have reported race to directly correspond to inequalities (Davis & Gentlewarrior, 2015).…”

“…Such disparity impacts access to housing, employment, and health care to name a few (Davis & Gentlewarrior, 2015). In fact, some studies have reported race to directly correspond to inequalities (Davis & Gentlewarrior, 2015). In general, white people are socialized to be oblivious to racial privilege.…”

“…In general, white people are socialized to be oblivious to racial privilege. Such innocence claiming serves to further exacerbate the situation of inequality (Davis & Gentlewarrior, 2015). Davis and Gentlewarrior (2015) argue that given the fact that the majority of social workers are white, it is critical for social workers to be educated and informed about the ways in which white privilege impacts their clients and their practice.…”

“…Several participants reflected upon the privilege they experience relative to their clients and the constant identification of such privilege through critical reflection as triggering of shame. While critical reflection can be uncomfortable, many social work professionals and instructors emphasize its usefulness in increasing students' awareness of the privileges and oppressions they afford and to ensure they are not reproducing inequality in their work (Wong, 2004;Case, 2013;Davis & Gentlewarrior, 2015).…”

“…Given that critical reflection is a key component of the program at Carleton and in many social work programs, we must continue to evaluate the strengths and challenges of this technique and ways to support students through the process. It is clear that critical reflection practices serve an important role in reminding social workers of the privileges they possess so as not to reinforce these power dynamics with their clients (Wong, 2004;Case, 2013;Davis & Gentlewarrior, 2015). However, the shame students experience as result of these practices may have a silencing effect, reducing allied behaviors (Linder, 2015).…”