The Main Issues and Findings Reported in the Reading
In this article, the main issue that arises is on how a social worker can help a minority group that is suspicious of his or her activities. It is the responsibility of the social worker to help, but the people to be helped do not trust those who offer the help. The article tells about Israeli students who were social workers, assigned to help ten Pakistani nationals who found themselves in Israel during a Gaza Strip war between the two countries.
During the war, some of the Pakistani nationals found themselves in Israel. As a result of the hostility between the two nations, these hostages did not trust the Israeli social workers. These hostages were seriously injured during the war. When taken to Israeli hospitals where they were to get treatment, these hostages were very suspicious of the treatment given to them.
They thought they would be poisoned instead of being treated properly. They felt that the Israeli social workers were not really determined to help them, but only wanted to kill them (Krumer-Nevo, Krumer-Nevo, & Idit, 2006).
Some of these hostages succumbed to their injuries and this increased the suspicion of the group towards the social workers. Due to this suspicion, it became very difficult for them to accept any help from the social workers in Israel. This meant that helping them was not easy.
The Relevance of the Reading in Understanding Human Behavior in the Social Environment
This reading is very relevant in understanding human behavior in the social environment. This can be explained with the fact that it is necessary for the social workers to understand that the minority group will always have the feeling of being intimidated by the dominant group.
It helps one realize that although such incidences of misunderstanding and mistrust may be felt between the majority and the minority groups, a social worker should understand and learn how to co-exist with people of different backgrounds, race, ethnicity and culture.
One should understand that the minority group may have different views and also suspicion of the services they are given by the social workers who come from the class of the majority.
The minority will always feel at risk and sometimes insecure. It is very important for a social worker to have such kind of information and learn how to help this marginalized group in a very positive manner. By doing so, there will be a harmony and healthy co-existence between the two groups
The Potential Relevance of the Reading for Generalist Social Work Practice
This reading is very crucial for generalist social practice. It helps in realizing and understanding that human diversity should be embraced. People from a certain culture will always feel that their culture is unique, the best, and should be practiced and observed by all. For generalist social work practice, it is important to understand the effect of such suspicion on their work.
They must understand that their work is meant to offer reprieve to those who are suffering due to a given unfortunate phenomenon. To do this successfully, they need to win trust of people they work for, especially when they are the minority group.
Reference
Krumer-Nevo, M., Krumer-Nevo, M., &Idit, W. (2006). Factors Affecting the Interest of Israeli Social Work Students in Working with Different Client Groups. Journal of Social Work Education, 42(3), 443-463.