Empowering Diverse Populations Essay Example for Free

Empowering Diverse Populations Essay Firstly, with this article, the usage of the term ‘minority groups’ and ‘minority’ was somehow in opposition to what the article posited about cultural competence and sensitivity. Being a Latino male myself, the author thinks that these two terms are derogatory and add to the ‘debilitating effect’ that the article itself posited. The article mentioned language and words which were used to create oppression within ethnic and cultural groups and were being transformed by these groups into terms that afforded them power. The writer thinks that the word ‘minority’ should not be used in referring to these groups who are more marginalized and oppressed. Using a systems point of view, outside systems impose these labels on the so-called ‘minority groups’ who tend to either reject or accept this input according to their own needs. However, in empowering diverse populations, the writer agrees with the article wherein she had cited Paolo Friere’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed in creating one’s on knowledge and situation to better understand the situation of a larger whole. Using indigenous knowledge of a group, individual or family, the social worker will be able to help them reach a higher understanding of their situation in connection to the larger society. The article’s focus on family fragmentation and disconnection as a result of a diversifying society (Pinderhughes, 1995) is only one effect of how wider influences and diverse cultures are affecting the world. However, focusing on the micro level of intervention and merely mentioning policy, institution and structural changes in society to cope with the problem is not enough. This would imply that the article sees family fragmentation as a problem produced within the family itself in its struggle to cope with diversity and oppression. That the family or the individual is the target for change or intervention seems rather derogatory for the writer. A holistic approach must be done, even if a social worker is focused on family practice, one must be able to apply Generalist Social Work Practice in order to solve the problem on all levels. References Pinderhughes, E. (1995). Empowering Diverse Populations: Family Practice in the 21st Century. Families in Society , 131-140.