Human Services, Ideology and Policy Evolution - Assignment Example

Human Services, Ideology and Policy Evolution Affiliation: Part Discuss the causes and effects of oppression and, using an example from the human services, provide some possible solutions to empower a client. Introduction Disability is a significant impairment in life function. It is not only physical but mental and since once impaired an individual is restricted in the activities they are able to perform, they are oppressed based on regards of being slow and lazy. Oppression is the act of keeping down an individual and judging them unfairly and unjustly causing them physical and emotional suffering. This oppression on this human service group is caused by many things and leads to different effects which will be explained in detail below. Disability does not correlate to complete inability and hence assistance rather than oppression is necessary. Causes a) Societal beliefs People learn from the society on what to believe and what to say and even how to act. When the society holds the belief that the disabled in society do not need to be accorded any justice or treated fairly because they are not the same as the rest of the people, then everybody else in society will follow suit in the oppression. The societal beliefs are also what makes the rest of the society consider the people living with various forms of disabilities as deserving to suffer whether from humiliation, being treated with hostility or being condemned and especially to those suffering from mental disabilities and do not have the power to fight for their rights (Lightman, 2003). b) Misunderstanding The other cause of oppression to the disabled in society is brought about by a misunderstanding. This misunderstanding is spread through propaganda by the media which depicts the disables as being lazy and hence slow in doing their work. This is clearly a misunderstanding and a misconception because the disabled are slowed down by their significant impairment. A crippled man using clutches for example cannot be expected to work at a faster rate as a normal and abled individual. Some of these people with disabilities also suffer constant pain and hence have to rest every now and then. These are the signs that are misconstrued and regarded as being laziness and slowness while they are indeed trying out their best. The other disabled on the streets seeking assistance are another reason for being regarded as lazy but they are simply seeking help but this does not mean they are lazy (Tomlinson & Trew, 2005). c) Dislike The other cause of oppression is simply dislike for the disabled people because they are different from the rest of the people. The dislike is in such excess as to cause people to make the disabled suffer. The dislike is usually brought about by the fact that the disabled get the welfare assistance, are exempted from some taxes and seem to get special treatment compared to the rest of the people. This is however only as a way for the government to ease their suffering and make their lives much easier but it ends up leading to drawing dislike from some members of the public who cause the disabled suffering and oppress them every opportunity they get. Effects a) Income inequality One of the greatest effects of oppression towards the disabled is in the income area. Most employers who view their disabled employees as being lazy and slow ted to offer those lower salaries as well as benefits (Lightman, 2003). They do not have any special benefits they can accord them and they simply treat them equally with the rest of the able-bodied employees even though their disabilities are individualized affairs. The inequality in income is despite the fact that the disabled have rights and unless they are aware of these rights or find people to assist them fight for these rights; they continue to receive lower income and benefits than other employees. b) Unemployment Most disabled people as a result of their impairment tend to lack any employment. The employers regard them are being unable to do any work despite their qualifications. This is brought about by the misinformation that is provided by the media discussed above. Those that tend to get disability while working have their employment terminated and offered to normal and abled individuals. Most employers also do not want to have to offer specialized services to the disabled that are demanded if they are hired and hence prefer to not employ them at all which adds to the suffering of the people living with disabilities (Lightman, 2003). c) Hostility and violence Another effect of the oppression shown to the disabled is the hostility and violence they face from a few members of the public. The violence is especially shown towards those disabled people on the streets seeking assistance. They are abused and even beaten up by people who have put to heart their claims of laziness. The hostility is also as a result of the benefits the disabled get especially the welfare. All these hostility and violence is carried out without regards for the suffering the disabled get as a result of their conditions with or without the rights and benefits accorded to them by the government (Tomlinson & Trew, 2005). Possible solutions a) Change media attitude One of the solutions to end the oppression against the people living with disabilities is to change the media and use it to change the attitudes of the people in general. If the media can showcase the real sufferings that the disabled get as well as put into the open that anybody can be disabled, then they can dent the current oppression or even end it completely. The same way they caused the oppression by portraying the negative sides of a disabled person, they can showcase the positive side such as focusing on the disabled people that are prominent in society. b) Empowerment of the disabled The disabled people and especially those are physically disabled can be able to end or at least reduce their oppression significantly. All they need is empowerment through being given their rights as well as organizations and government facilities that can be able to fight for their justice if they are treated unfairly or unjustly. This will especially end their income inequality as well as unemployment effects of oppression that have been discussed above. If they are empowered enough, they will be able to fight for their rights and in the long run end the oppression and ensure that the society respects them and treats them equally with the rest of the people (Tomlinson & Trew, 2005). c) Public campaigns on rights of the disabled The government and organizations that are tasked with the affairs and rights of the disabled should organize public campaign and forums to educate the public on the rights of the disabled in society. The campaigns will be a way for the public to learn more about the disabled, the sufferings they undergo, the oppression they face and how unfair this is to them. They will also be in a position after the campaigns to be on the forefront of fighting for the rights of the disabled or at least seek ways to alleviate their suffering and in the long run end their oppression (Tomlinson & Trew, 2005). Conclusion When discussing the causes and effects of oppression towards the disabled, it is important to remember that the oppression is caused by the societal beliefs, the media’s misinformation as well as people’s dislike of the disabled and their welfare. This causes them to have income inequality and even face unemployment and hostility. All these can be ended with campaign of awareness of the rights of the disabled and empowerment of the disabled people in order to make them fight for their rights as well. When people remember that disability is not correlated with inability, then they will end the oppression and regard the disabled people with equality and respect. Part 2 How have differing political ideologies affected the model of human service delivery, in your current or past professional experience, and what was the impact on the users of the services you observed? When there is a change of political ideology, it means that the focus on what is important in society will change. Priorities of human services are also bound to change to suit the political ideology in discussion leaving the others to suffer as a result and the one chosen to massively benefit. When Obama administration for example was inaugurated, they shifted their political ideology from a more conservative nature to be more liberal in almost every human service delivery. The one human service delivery that benefited the most and continues to benefit is the health service and everything pertaining to this service delivery (Emanuel, 2014). Much more attention started to be paid to this service delivery and especially in ensuring that the oppressed and marginalized in society received the services equally to the others who are able to pay and acquire the services as was the case in the past political ideology. The ones that have continued to benefit with the Obamacare are the poor in society that could not have afforded the expensive medical care and health insurance but who are currently able to go to hospital when sick and pay for the hospital services offered (Emanuel, 2014). The change in political ideology in this case was helpful. Government regulation of business protects the public interest. When the government regulates the business market, it actually eliminates the middle men that cause the initial service providers not get the value for their services or products. The government also sets standardized rules terms or service and business that will be followed by all. This way, everybody in business will have an equal opportunity to make profit, gain competitive advantage as well as have equal rights in business. References Emanuel, E. (2014). Reinventing American Health Care: How the Affordable Care Act will improve our Terribly Complex, Blatantly Unjust, Outrageously Expensive, Grossly Inefficient, and Error Prone System. New York: PublicAffairs. Lightman, E. (2003). Social Policy in Canada. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press. Tomlinson, D. & Trew, W. (2005). Equalizing Opportunities, Minimizing Oppression: A Critical Review of Anti-Discriminatory Policies in Health and Social Welfare. New Jersey: Routledge. Read More