What do you do if you lack the confidence to challenge oppressive systems and structures as a social worker?

Working in environments with rigid norms and oppressive structures can be a challenge for social workers. It's important to gain background knowledge and deep understanding of the local context, and find entry points to subtly work within existing systems. This can include building alliances with stakeholders that enjoy influence in the area, including local community and faith leaders and local government representatives. To avoid a backlash, its important to work alongside these stakeholders and respect local norms and culture to gradually challenge oppressive systems.

Consult experienced coworkers, managers, or mentors for help on negotiating hostile systems. Spend time studying social justice, power, and advocacy. This can boost confidence and help challenge authoritarian systems. Start by confronting lesser oppressions or advocating for clients in your practice. You can tackle greater systemic challenges as you gain experience and confidence. Meet other social justice and anti-oppressive activists. A supportive community can lend support and resources for fighting repressive institutions.

Feeling threatened by the idea of revolting against structures/systems that perpetuate inequality is natural, especially if you're in it alone. It's imperative to get to the bottom of our fears - is it insufficient support, knowledge, or (lived) experience? This can be a good place to start addressing them - whether that means seeking guidance, higher education, or building a community. Is it essential to highlight that confidence only develops when we take the plunge and confront our fears. The only mantra to feeling more confident is to DO IT ANYWAY and it builds inevitably in the process. If we wait till we're "ready", we might never end up challenging systems!!

Social workers don't need to be superheroes. Start by educating yourself on oppression and privilege. Then, empower your clients and find allies within the system or community to challenge it together.

It's completely understandable to feel hesitant when challenging oppressive systems, especially as a social worker. It's important to start by educating yourself about the issues and gaining a deeper understanding of the systems at play. Seek support from colleagues, mentors, or professional networks who can provide guidance and encouragement. Building your confidence may take time, but remember that your voice and actions can make a difference. Start by advocating for your clients and creating safe spaces for dialogue. Together, we can work towards a more inclusive and just society.

I am currently in my MSW program to continue my education. In the process, I am building networks, collaborating & finding solutions!

Deepen your knowledge about the oppressive systems and structures you want to challenge. This includes understanding their historical context, how they operate, and their impact on communities. Read about social workers and activists who have successfully challenged oppression. This can provide both inspiration and practical strategies that can be adapted to your context. Look for workshops, courses, and seminars that focus on advocacy skills, community organizing, and challenging systemic oppression.

Collective ideas and minds help or can lead to great team work. Furthermore, building networks will uprift and give energy to you and get strategies to overcome all forms of oppression. In short support system is the collective voices.

I believe progress is not linear in any aspect and emotions often interfere with perspective. When completing a task or moving past something, we are quick to think what are we going to achieve next? But by taking the time to appreciate what we endured to get there, it's important to stay in that present moment and be grateful for all the hard work to get to this point. Gratitude practice is always good to encourage and share with others. There is no rush to get to the next step. Happiness can be with you in the present whenever you allow it to be. Instead of chasing happiness and having endless to do list before you get to the final destination and look back and not even see where you stopped to reflect or make space in your heart.

Remember that what sets social work apart from other mental health professions is that we are tasked with committing to social justice and anti-oppressive practice! It is not easy and often uncomfortable to be agitating for change within the systems where we work but it is also our duty. I often will remind myself that my primary allegiance is to my client so while I of course want to be strategic in how I approach advocating for them, I don't get to opt out.

If everyone takes this attitude, nothing will ever change. Change work is exhausting and you have to be prepared for the rejection, the pushback, the bullies, but it’s also part of our ethics. If you stand on a privileged position (which a masters degree is one, only 13% of Americans have one) then you have a duty to do what you can. At the very least vote or sign petitions, but honestly we need more social workers who know people and what they’re talking about in politics. There’s only ever been two or three in the senate, which to me is shocking because a lot of traumas are external situations now, not just internal struggles.