SWO-409 Dynamics of Racism and Oppression

Since its inception, the social work profession has been committed to developing health and human services that promote diversity and alleviate and/or eliminate social oppression and injustice. Rooted in the ecological perspective, social workers are aware of and can identify large social structures and processes that can negatively impact the well-being of communities and individuals. This 3-credit course is an intensive examination of how racism meets at the intersection of other dynamics of oppression to shape our and our clients’ experiences as we work together. The selection of the oppression of racism as a primary focus for the course is deliberate. Through the analysis of critical race theory and intersectionality, students will come to understand the reasoning for this emphasis. The course begins with conceptualizing race as a social construct and racism as a system that exists on multiple domains. From there, using an intersectional approach, we will examine the research focusing on how people develop racial identities in the face of racism, and how our racial identities position us to do our work. While thinking about how to disrupt racism in key sectors, such as the health professions and schools, we will then focus on how to enact culturally responsive care at the micro, meso, and macro levels in ways that honor the expertise and strengths of BIPOC people and their communities. The course is designed to stimulate critical thinking, help us critically reflect on our positionalities, and develop systematic critical analyses that lead to identifying ways that social workers can intervene and oppose oppression professionally and personally.