International Social Work : Reflection & Reflective Practice’

Running head: INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK1
The terms ‘reflection’ and ‘reflective practice’ have more than on meaning especially
when we discuss about the ways we work with students in colleges. Reflective practice has also
nothing new in it; educational theorists are well aware of the connection that exists between
reflection and learning from a long time ago. Theorists like Donald Schon, David Kolb, John
Dewey and Benjamin Bloom have written about this connection and understood the purpose of
“reflective observation” which is essential for building an understanding which would lead to
self- development and synthesis, which in turn is acutely different from understanding of a
factual content or objective. Reflective practice thus, is a complex way to connect theory and
application in order to foster a profound kind of learning. The concept of praxis in the area of
social change was chosen as an organizing framework since it requires a student to expand their
rational association to the activism (Boud, 2013). In simple words, praxis is a concept which
means action that is informed by relevant theory. The term praxis was first used by Plato, but
Aristotle developed the term into a more precise concept. He defined it as one of three basic
activities attempted by humans known as the theoria, praxis and poiesis. Unlike reflective
practice, praxis is the method of achieving knowledge through practical action (Harvey &
Jenkins, 2014). The purpose of this self- reflection is to develop a self- awareness and investigate
the issues of gender and disability issues through the lens of two types of theoretical approaches
namely privilege theory and oppression theory. These theories for the issues of gender and
disability and other such social problem helps in identifying both visible and invisible forms of
privilege and oppressions that in turn shapes our values and approaches to the social issues.
Social privilege is an unearned or special entitlement or advantage that is used for one’s
own benefit or utilized for the detriment of others. It is important to note that the groups which
benefit from this advantage are very often unaware of it (Guess, Donovan & Naslund, 2015).

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK2
Such groups can have advantage on the basis of class, age, gender or gender identity, education,
disability or racial category. This privilege is basically considered to be a concept of theory that
is used in a diverse subject and are mostly related to social inequality. Privileges are also
associated with cultural and social forms of power (Hancock, 2016). Initially it started as a
concept of academy, but after the wide invocation outside of academic area, this theoretical
concept has gone through evolution and it has resulted in growing awareness as well as
acceptance of the idea of privilege in the popular culture of today. There are several forms of
privileges like educational racism, privileges of the heterosexual individuals and many more
(Panadero & Romero, 2014). Thus, the theory of privilege debates that every individual is placed
within a matrix of categories as well as contexts; it will be in some ways an advantage and in
other ways it will prove to be a disadvantage. This argument is further supported by Crenshaw’s
idea of intersectionality. There are many criticisms regarding the concept of privilege since many
people have the belief that privilege is something that has more to do with “luxuries” rather than
rights. Lawrence Blum made a suggestion that privilege theory should be able to distinguish
between “unjust enrichment” and “spared injustice” since it might end up homogenizing both the
groups of privileges and non- privileges when it should take the responsibility of interacting the
effects and multiple group identities of a group. In a study published in the year 2019 by
psychologists Erin Cooley, it is reported that the white privileges have decreased the social
liberals for the poor white people and instead it has increased their will blame or punish;
however, this white privilege did not increase any sympathy for the black people who are poor.
Through my personal experience working in the field of social work, I have seen the
theory of privilege being applied to groups and individuals which were utilized for either their
benefit or demeaning some other group of people. I have seen one form of privilege that people