Theoretical Orientation Graphic And Position Paper

The story “Woman Hollering Creek" by Sandra Cisneros describes the lives of Mexicans in a Chicago neighborhood. She depicts the life that women endure as Latino wives through her portrayal of the protagonist, Cleofilas. For Cisneros being a Mexican-American has given her a chance to see life from two different cultures. In addition, Cisneros has written the story from a woman’s perspective, illustrating the types of conflicts many women face as Latino wives. This unique paradigm allows the reader to examine the events and characters using a feminist critical perspective.

Despite being outcasted by other feminist groups such as the mainstream Chicano movement, and the second wave feminist movement, they wanted to set themselves apart through the use of their own personal experiences with gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, class structure, and so forth. This term relates to Mexican-American and Hispanic women who oppose the traditional “household wife” role. They challenged the fundamental ideologies women, and young women are taught at an early age, and breaks away from the idea that men have dominion over women. This can also be categorized as a movement that fights against stereotypes against women. This term is important in context to our reading’s because this movement paved way for Chicano women to make their voice heard in their community. Just like we familiarize ourselves with key men in the Chicano movement, women also wanted to describe their experiences, and social injustices they were challenged with because they were women on top of other

Social workers must strive “for a full understanding of the complex interactions between the client and all levels of the social and physical system as well as meaning that the client assigns to each of these interactions” (Andreae, 1996, p. 605).

Today, educated social workers value its positions on human dignity and social justice. However, this was not always the sign of the times, as in the 1960’s and 1970’s, empowerment-based theories had not yet been conceived, leaving practitioners at the strings of the puppeteer, of the hierarchal practices of pathology based organizations.

Based on Cisneros’ works of literature, gender roles in a Hispanic culture revolves around patriarchal rule. The repercussions of a patriarchal rule includes the limitations of female liberation and development. Cleofilas’ abusive situation exemplifies the limitations of her independence and development as she can not make her own decisions and has to solely depend on her husband. This situation is illustrated when Cleofilas explains that the towns are “built so that you have to depend on husbands... You can drive only if you’re rich enough to own and drive an own car. There is no place to go” (Cisneros 628). Cleofilas reveals that men are the dominant gender and have more authority, and that women are compelled to depend on them in her society. It is an exceptionally rare case that a woman can afford her own car, for the men usually control the finances in a household. Additionally, Cleofilas has nowhere to seek refuge from her husband. Although she yearns to return to her father’s home, she decides not to due to the social standards imposed on her. In her society, the act of returning home after marriage is socially unacceptable. She understands that her family will be viewed in a negative light if she were to return home, as seen when Cleofilas refers to her town as a “town of gossips” (627). Similar to other men in the society, Juan Pedro’s authority is shown through his abuse. Cleofilas recalls, “He slapped her once, and then again, and again; until the lip split and bled an orchid of blood” (626).

Social work professions need to understand the importance of how individuals interact both with other people and their environment, to have an understanding how individuals are affected by these interactions (Rogers, p. 2). According to Rogers (2016), “Social workers are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course; the range of social systems in which people live; and the ways social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Social workers apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to understand biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development (p. 2). Their work with clients begins with assessments to evaluations of intervention and is based in and supports of the core value system of the profession.

The story illustrates the overlapping influences of women’s status and roles in Mexican culture, and the social institutions of family, religion, economics, education, and politics. In addition, issues of physical and mental/emotional health, social deviance and crime, and social and personal identity are

As an aspiring social worker, it is important to think about what theories to apply whilst working in the field. Through a structural approach, I will use multiple theories in my practice, such as intersectionality in regards to feminist social work and resilience and empowerment. This is because one theory may not consider the limitations of the model in working to analyze, assess, and provide intervention for clients (Lundy, 2011).

My field placement experience has permitted me to develop and evolve as a professional social worker. This was a time that I implemented my social work practice theories with the client system from a micro, mezzo and macro environment. This knowledge enables me to understand how changes in one individual influences changes in the family and community environments. As a social worker, I was able to combine the ecological and social systems theory, focusing on the individual and his or her environment. I was likewise able to explore the interactions between the individual and his micro, mezzo, and macro systems as well as concentrating on the goodness of fit between the person and the environment. Each of these theories created a framework for which I could utilize in the intervention process.

My key experience is allowing me to encourage those who have participated to interact with others they encounter on many different levels. Strategies of Clinical Social Work is a class where we talked about Ecological Systems Theory. This was developed by Bronfenbrenner identifies several different environments that we interact within many times during our lives. He identified these environments as the Microsystem, Mesosystem, Exosystem, and the Macrosystem.

One of the strengths of the system theory is that social workers can use tools like ecomaps, and genograms when working with clients to develop a holistic view of person-in-environment and enhance their understanding of interaction between systems. A social worker could draw a genograms for Eloise and explore all the avenues of support using the systems theory. One weakness of the system theory is that it does not address societal issues like social inequalities. This existence of unequal opportunity is very common among our clients. Eloise will most likely be stigmatized by society for her mental health disorder.

“The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty (NASW, 2015). A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society (NASW, 2015).” This statement says many things to me, but essentially it says that I am to assist a person that is in need and empower them.

The purpose of this reflection paper is to understand how to use a theory that will help explain Janice’s behavior and social organization. A social worker needs to understand Janice’s behavior in the environment so that they can give her the proper resource to better her life situations (Rogers, 2010). In the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social worker (NASW), a social worker’s job is to help improve “the well-being others and to help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty” (NASW, 2016). The theories of social role and system theory will help explain how her well-being can be improved.

Melissa’s HIV diagnosis caused a change in her entire system. The diagnosis changed her systems internally and externally. For my intervention with Melissa to be successful it is necessary that I, as a social worker comprehensively understand the changes that Melissa´s set of systems are having. For example, some the systems that were open (friendships, relationships) for Melissa now are closed systems, because she may feel that if they know about her diagnosis they can reject her; or she has to think twice before letting someone in in her life. “ To be efficacious in meeting professional goals, social workers must have a working knowledge of the body’s system and the ways these systems interact with each other and with other interior and exterior environmental dimensions” ( Hutchison, D. E. 2011. p.78)

Finding a secure attachment in life is given in families who play a role in your life as children, but a few are not as lucky to have families who express and show this process are left without the knowledge and are forced to find a way of repairing one's life as an adult. As a Latina that comes from a semi-large family I believe rituals, support and distance plays a big role in my family with that said Dr. Broderick (USC) who wrote the terms transition character and described it in a few was in his article.