Discussion
For citizens in some countries, religious oppression is common and long standing. While freedom of religion is guaranteed in the U.S., religious intolerance still exists.
According to the Equal Opportunity Employment commission, the number of lawsuits filed for religious discrimination doubled between 2000-2010 (Pledger, 2011).
Social workers must be alert for the complex ways that religious privilege functions.
By creating an awareness of the privilege given to some while marginalizing others, social workers can understand how this bias impacts their clients.
By Day 3 Post an explanation of the connections between privilege and religion.
Describe a situation in which members of a religion experience privilege. Describe a situation in which members of a religion experience religious oppression.
Assignment
When pieces of cloth are sewn together, you might have trouble discerning the individual pieces of cloth that make the final garment, but by looking carefully, you can find the seams.
You may have experienced similar difficulty in the first week of this course when asked to explore the individual aspects of culture that combine to create your unique self-identity.
Forms of oppression can come together often in almost imperceptible ways to form the complex environment in which you and your clients live and interact.
As a social worker, you must examine carefully the intersections between religious discrimination, sexism, classism, and racism so you can respond accordingly.
To prepare: Consider this week's resources that describe how religion intersects with other forms of oppression.
By Day 7 of Week 8 Submit your response to those resources and analyze what you think is the role of religion in reinforcing sexism, classism, and racism.
As a social worker, how can you address these issues on a micro and macro level?