Problem:
Respond to the discussion below by explaining one way in which your colleagues' experiences could inform and/or influence their social work practice. Make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.
Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, my experience with social class was shaped by poverty, instability, and limited access to resources. Being raised in a single mom household with an absent father who struggled with addiction meant that financial stress and inequality were part of my daily life. I experienced classism in school, where outdated textbooks and limited resources showed how students from low income communities receive fewer opportunities. Marsiglia et. al (2021) mentioned social class affects access to resources, power, and income. Furthermore, American Psychological Association (2017) mentioned lower socioeconomic status is linked to poor educational opportunities, which reflects my own experiences. For instance, I graduated high school with a six grade reading level, and I did not know how to write a paragraph, making it much more difficult to pass college courses. Thankfully, I took remedial college courses that helped me get back on track.
After reviewing my Week 1 video, I realized I did not directly name social class, but I clearly described it through my experiences of growing up in poverty and in a low income neighborhood. At the time, I focused more on culture, family, and resilience rather than labeling social class. This showed how social class can often overlap with ethnicity, race, and community which is not always explicitly recognized, as discussed in intersectionality frameworks (The Advocate, 2018). The lasting effects of housing segregation and redlining also help explain why communities like South Central Los Angeles continue to face limited opportunities (NPR, 2018). Looking back, I can now see that social class was a key part of my story and strongly influenced my decision to pursue social work in order to advocate for equity. Need Assignment Help?