Social problems are inherent truths within any society. Developed countries have social problems in the same way that developing countries do. However, in many cases in developed countries, the people who live there do not always now that the problem exists, unless in is right in front of them. This is especially true in Canada. Even though Canada is thought of as one of the best countries in the world to live in, it has its own array of social problems that many do not know about, or simply choose to ignore. The plight of Canada's Aboriginal population is a great example of this. Many of these Aboriginals live in extreme poverty under very tough conditions, but for many of us, especially those of us in the larger metropolitan areas, we do not think about that when we tell people how great Canada is. Within many of these poor Aboriginal communities the people suffer from more social problems than they are equipped to handle.
[...] The plight of Canada's Aboriginal population is a great example of this. This essay has studied the social problems that afflict Canada's poor Aboriginal communities. From this we know, from an anti-oppressive perspective, what we will need to do to change to be a social worker responding to the social problem of Aboriginal alcohol abuse/addiction, and it is clear that what has happened to the Aboriginals in Canada is a tragedy, but through the right method they can be helped. Bibliography Armitage, A. (2003). Social Welfare in Canada (4th ed.). [...]
[...] Conflict theorists do not believe that the root of social problems is the individual, the family, or the sub-culture, but rather from the exploitative and oppressive ways of the dominant groups. (Horton, 1966: 704). Social problems are a result of the higher institutions. In the case of the Aboriginals, their social problems are due to the lack of compassion and policy on the part of the various levels of government, and of society as a whole. For the anti-oppressive social worker, this means fighting for change at all social, economic, and political levels. [...]
[...] Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press. Canadian Press (1-Feb, 2008). Booze, Suicide Plagues Reserve Where Girls Died. Accessed on 05-Apr.-08. from www.edmontonsun.com/news/canada/2008/02/01/4805593-sun.html Freeman, B. (1998). Indigenous Pathways to Anti-Oppressive Practise. In Baines, D. (ed). Doing Anti-Oppressive Practise: Building Transformative Politicized Social Work. Halifax: Fernwood Publishing. Gorelick, M. (2007, September). DISCRIMINATION OF ABORIGINALS ON NATIVE LANDS IN CANADA. UN Chronicle, 50-52. [...]
[...] As an anti-oppressive social worker, this perspective should be unacceptable. They cannot blame social problems solely on the individual as there are clearly broader issues at play. This notion that the individual is to blame is based on systems theory that says it is the job of social workers to fix the social problems in society so that it will operate smoothly. The plight of Aboriginals can also be legitimized by using the sub-cultural theory, which attempts to explain social problems on inherent categories like a “culture of poverty.” (Mullaly, 2002: 10). [...]
[...] From this we will know, from an anti-oppressive perspective, what we will need to do to change to be a social worker responding to the social problem of Aboriginal alcohol abuse/addiction, and it will be clear that what has happened to the Aboriginals in Canada is a tragedy, but through the right method they can be helped. Some social workers hesitate to place much practical weight on theory as they think it has no place out side the classroom, but as Howe (1987) contends, theory is used as a part of our everyday life, and ignorance of theoretical perspectives is not a virtue that should be sought after, as it is merely an excuse for poor and dishonest conduct (as it relates to a social worker). [...]
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