Journal Prompt
After completing these past two weeks, along with what you learned , how do you define power? Below are some examples. You may choose one of these to expand on, or develop your own definition independently.
Something held by individuals; some people are powerful, some people are powerless
There is only a finite amount of power available, so it is a ‘zero-sum game’; for one person to get more power, they have to take it from another
Power is a negative concept that is used to control others
Power is structural and built into the systems that oversee important functions
Power is pervasive and embodied in all relationships and discourses
Power is fluid and it is possible for one person or group to gain power without taking it from others
Power is a positive concept, necessary for agency and positive action
Power is connected to your identity and the groups you belong to
Power is connected to your relationships with others
Why do you define power in this way? How do you see power affecting your role as a social worker?
Rseources to use:
The Perils of Power (Audio length: 26 minutes)
Vedantam, S. [Host] (20160. The perils of power [Radio Show]. From Hidden Brain. NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2016/09/06/492305430/the-perils-of-power
American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (2013). Grand accomplishments in social work. Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative. Baltimore, MD: Author. http://aaswsw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/WP2-with-cover.pdf
Young, I. M. (1990). Five faces of oppression. In Justice and the Politics of Difference (pp. 39-65). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Harro, B. (1982). The cycle of socialization. https://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/sites/default/files/cycle-socialization.pdf
