Thoughts on Power and Social Work

I read the article "Power and social work in the United Kingdom: A Foucauldian excursion"* by Tony Gilbert and Jason L. Powell and I think it expresses the root of my hesitation to take on a cloak of authority in my professional life. I know the authority we take on as professionals is legitimate and well-earned, and that we are held to a set of standards, but somehow I still feel hesitant. It feels like being in a position of authority reinforces a power structure I don't feel right being a part of. It feels hypocritical, like somehow it undermines the principles and values of social work (social justice, e.g.) to claim this authority, even if the authority is legitimate... After all, shouldn't someone who really values solidarity with her clients naturally be at odds with any system that reinforces a power hierarchy between the professional and the client?

The article describes the situation as more nuanced than that - i.e., that power is relative/relational, and that it is fluid rather than static. It also offers some hope of potential for social workers to resist or work to correct power inequalities. The authors of this article maintain that it is impossible for individual social workers to remove ourselves from the flow of power, and that we are both actors and acted upon by the concept of governmentality. This offers me some hope in a strange, resigned way - that is, being in a position of power/authority is not endemic specifically to social work. Regardless of what profession or path we choose in life, we are still going to be a part of a society that is comprised of a constant flow of power. So truly, if there is really no way out of the flow of power, we may as well embrace it and make the best of it... especially since social work specifically makes a conscious effort - more so than the vast majority of other professions - to achieve values like social justice and valuing the worth of individuals.

I mean, what else are we going to do - reject society entirely and live like hermits in the woods? Not only does that undermine the purpose of working to promote societal change (which is why we're all social workers to begin with, right?); but it is also, if I understand the Foucauldian perspective correctly, futile anyhow - since we all govern ourselves with our own thoughts, thus perpetuating the power dynamic even in the absence of anyone else!

And anyway, just like any other professionals, don't social workers deserve to be acknowledged for, and make a living by, our expertise? Isn't authority kind of a good thing? If you're sick, you want a doctor who is an authority in her field, right?

On a related note, after reading Saul Alinsky's book Rules for Radicals*, it seems reasonable to accept the idea that instead of trying to live life as we wish it were (head in the clouds), we have to start from where it is (feet on the ground) - and in doing so, acknowledge, understand, accept and work within existing power structures, or else be doomed to ineffectiveness.

But while there are ingrained mechanisms within our NASW Core Values and our Code of Ethics for undermining and resisting inequality, as members of this modern society, we still in many ways inherently perpetuate inequality. In so many ways, we as professionals and academics - even social workers - can fall victim to embracing hubris to promote ourselves, or choosing not to speak up when a moral dilemma arises because it may compromise our job or career, etc... So my question is not do I want to be a professional social worker. My question is: how can I be a social worker with integrity? How can I live a life and have a career that is in line with my values? How can I advance in my career without compromising my ethics? Ultimately, how do I avoid selling out?

I don't have the answers to these questions, and that bothers me. What are your answers?

*References (not perfect APA format - don't judge. It's late.):

Gilbert, T. and Powell, J.L. "Power and social work in the United Kingdom: A Foucauldian excursion" http://jsw.sagepub.com/content/early/2009/12/08/1468017309347237 - if you want to read the full PDF of the article, I can email it to you. Published online before print December 8, 2009, doi: 10.1177/1468017309347237 Journal of Social Work January 2010 vol. 10 no. 1 3-22

Alinsky, S. Rules for radicals. 1971, Vintage Books. More info: http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780679721130-16

Palestine

Palestine

Tonight my neighbor A asked me "do you have a position on Palestine/Israel?"

It was such a great question. I'm glad she asked! It gave me a chance to think about and articulate my perspective. It's not a subject I spend a lot of time talking/thinking about. Maybe I should...

Sacramento Area Peace Action is actually putting on a speaker series on Palestine. Next Tuesday the 19th is the next to last event. (More about that below.)

My answer to A is as follows:

So I am not pro-Israel or pro-Palestine, per se. I'm pro-peace... meaning I'm an advocate of finding a solution that creates social justice and quells violence for both sides. And no matter what, I believe that the US has no business funding a violent, inhumane, and illegal occupation.

To tell the truth, the more I learn about Israel/Palestine, the more I realize how much I have to learn. My general position is that it's NOT okay the way Israel (through the massive support of the US) treats the Palestinians. Regardless of the history of the region and picking sides and all that, the fact remains that Israel's occupation is illegal according to international law. It's also inhumane and against international conventions to do what Israel did by blockading Gaza earlier this year and not allowing humanitarian aid and basic supplies in. Palestinians don't have the same rights as Israelis. Palestinians routinely have their crops, their homes, their businesses destroyed by Israeli tanks and machines. They have to go through checkpoints all the time, as if they're criminals or foreigners. I heard a personal story of someone who was with a woman who could not get through the border even though she was in labor, and had to be driven hours out of the way to receive medical care. These kinds of things happen all the time.

That said, I'm not really well-versed even in modern Israel/Palestine history, let alone the thousands of years of history surrounding the different groups in the region. To be totally cliche, some of my best friends are Jewish, and are supporters of the state of Israel. I have no opinion on what kind of political structure should be in place... I just know that the Palestinians should not be being treated the way they are. Also, I know that the violence keeps festering because it is perpetuated by both sides. Neither side is right in resorting to violence, regardless of whether one uses tanks and the other uses car bombs.

In my non-professional opinion, the most destructive thing that causes breakdown in the dialog about Israel & Palestine is the flawed and overly-simplistic framing of the issue in the US media. Generally Palestinians are portrayed as anti-Semitic terrorists, whereas Israelis are innocent freedom fighters defending their homeland. There are so many fallacies in that. To begin with, an act is only called terrorism when it's a non-governmental group perpetrating it. Also, Israel is not exclusively Jewish; neither is Palestine exclusively Arab nor Muslim (some people don't even understand the difference between Arab and Muslim). And finally, Jerusalem and the entire country of Israel - is the historic homeland of BOTH groups.

Here's info about the Sacramento Area Peace Action event:
Tuesday, May 19, 7pm, Palestine Speaker Series: Current Realities/One State presented by Dr. Jess Ghanam, clinical professor of psychiatry and chief of medical psychology at UC San Francisco. Dr. Ghanam is on the board of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program and on the national board of Al-Awda the Palestine Right of Return Coalition. 909 12th St, Sac. Info: 916-448-7157, sacpeace@dcn.org; http://sacpeace.org/.

Music and Photography

Migration/Immigration: A Nation Divided

Last night I worked a photography show exhibiting Francisco Dominguez's work at the Sacramento Area Peace Action. You might know Francisco as fotowaddle. The event details are here.

I arrived early with pink punch and strawberries and cookies, and worked with others to set up the room, Manu Chao our audio backdrop. Then the guests started arriving in pairs and trios, and chose their seats among the mauve chairs, set theater-style. They filled the conference room with their glib buzzing chatter and chips-and-salsa crunching.

The program began with a short introduction, and then Pedro and Manuel played their beautiful stringed instruments and sang traditional call and response songs. Such volume! Such energy! Such melodic, percussive, dance-inducing JOY!

Francisco's photographs document the harsh conditions at the U.S.-Mexico border, and the people who live there. In both color and black and white, they were simple portraits and action shots. They were pieces of truth and tragedy: white crosses marking the graves of unknown people who died trying to find a better life; bracero workers who have been lending their labor to the United States for decades; barrels of water placed out in the desert by merciful church family members visiting through gaps in the border fence.

Francisco also performed an art piece: a traditional prayer with a DVD slide show of some of his shots. A group discussion with a question and answer period was held. Manuel and Pedro played again, reinvigorating us, keeping us strong and happy for another day of good work and honest living.

And on that note, I might have a new crush on a certain Guatemalan musician. Oh dear, my heart did flutter when he hugged me, crisp white shirt against my red t-shirt, warm cheek against mine, my fingers in his hand and his deep, quiet eyes glancing looking into mine as he took my card.

The Political is Personal

The following is excerpted from a letter I sent to my friend in response to his blog post about anger, specifically his bit on how differences in culture and background can create difficulties in communication.

As a peace and social justice activist, I struggle with the idea of cultural relativism. To a certain extent, I (as all people do, both ethically and practically) need to accept that there are things people do that may be abhorrent to me, but which work for them. It's not my place to tell people how to run their lives. At the same time, there are things people do that are just inexcusable on a human level - hence international documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And at that point, it's my duty as a human being to step in and say "that's not okay" - to engage in disruption. I have a very hard time drawing that line sometimes, especially when the kind of disruption that occurs generally on my behalf by my government is often military - which inherently perpetuates injustice and violence.

Also, an activist (and a human being!) must accept her/his own limitations. I had a very sad epiphany about two years ago, in which I realized that atrocities will probably still continue to occur after my lifetime ends, even if I dedicate every waking second to trying to make the world a more just place. While this realization stunned and saddened me, it also helped me to form a more realistic and sustainable vision for my lifelong social justice work.

I am not a religious person, but I do like this prayer:

"God, grant me
the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."

I don't want to be one of those activists who burns out due to frustration or disappointment. I have to allow my reward for what I do be the personal fulfillment I get from the work in that moment. All I can do is mitigate the injustice that inevitably exists in this moment and in the future. Therefore, as a citizen of the world who has been awakened to her own limitations, especially as one with lots of privilege - education, access to resources, etc. - I have two duties:

- Triage: to do what I can NOW to help reduce human suffering; and
- Society building: to work to build a world that sustains justice and rewards kindness.

And so, inspired by the great Frank Costanza, my meditation of the day is... "SERENITY NOW!" :)