Social Work Ethics

This paper will explore the personal and professional commitment of social workers to ending racial discrimination and oppression based on the Social Work Code of Ethics. Included as well, is what this writer can do as a future social worker and as an individual to end racial discrimination and oppression. Racism and oppression are pervasive in American society and it systematically closes the doors of opportunity to many individuals. Social workers, being sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity, strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice. These exercises might be as immediate practice, group sorting out, supervision, interview organization, support, social and political activity, arrangement

Social workers understand how diversity characterizes and shapes the human experience and is critical to the formation of identity and that as a consequence of difference, a person's life may incorporate oppression, poverty, underestimation, and alienation and in addition benefit, power and recognition. There is an overlap of social identities, as race, gender, sexuality, and class, contributes to the specific type of systemic oppression and discrimination experienced by an individual. Social workers have an obligation to promote social and economic justice for those who are oppressed or victimized by discrimination. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics states, "Social workers should act to prevent and eliminate domination of, exploitation of, and discrimination against any person, group, or class in view of race, ethnicity, national inception, color, sex, sexual introduction, age, marital status, political conviction, religion, or mental or physical

Racism and race are prominent priorities in the field of social work because they hinder the primary mission of the profession which is to improve the well-being of people and help them meet their basic human needs. Social workers should, therefore, challenge social injustice-- focusing on the issues of poverty, unemployment, discrimination and other manifestations. Segregation and prejudice against any gathering are harming to the social, emotional, economic well-being of the influenced gathering and of society. The NASW supports an inclusive, multicultural society and is also committed to advancing policies and practices that will improve the status and well-being of all lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. The National Association of Social Workers has included in the Code of Ethics appropriate behaviors regarding practice and research that specifically address discrimination. The profession has affirmed fighting to end discrimination to be one of its responsibilities. Because discrimination is so ingrained in the social fabric of human interaction, especially in America, social workers should have an increased awareness and sensitivity about discriminatory behavior, thoughts, attitudes, situations, events, and all of the different ways it exists is the first way of