In my early days of teaching, working with Access and first year undergraduate social work students, I would try to encourage students to consider why context, politics and policy matters:
Me: (Tongue in c
heek) So, let’s say the government decided to declare war on some random country in the Middle East (highly unlikely, I know) – what impact do you think this would have on social work?
This question was an exercise in an introductory social policy unit, where one of the objectives was to acknowledge the impact war has on social relations. Students would surprise themselves with the list they produced:
- Soldiers returning with disabilities
- Soldiers returning with PTSD or other mental illnesses
- Increased numbers of asylum seekers, including children in need
- Increased budget on defence, meaning less money spent on health and welfare
- Increased xenophobia and racism
- Loss and bereavement within families
- Potential terrorism
- Climate of increased fear and distrust
- Increased government surveillance
Social Policy and the Doris Day Fan 