Social work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Social work - Essay Example e been made to eliminate racism through community awareness, education, legislation, training of community service workers as well as planned attempts to try to cater for all segments of the society. Racism at all levels of a society including institutional, personal and structural, can be particularly difficult for the older people because of the psychological damage that it can cause. Social workers and those who are managing social services have to be aware of and be prepared to counter any racism that the encounter. This brief essay takes a look at the impact of racism on social work practice with older people in the United Kingdom. Older adults have been increasing in number in the industrialised countries as a result of the demographic changes which have taken place in these countries due to low birth rates and a high quality of health care that is provided to the citizens (Roberts, 2002, Pp. 1 -3). Many of these older adults are not from the mainstream racial or cultural background which is to be found in such countries and their presence has been the result of the immigration which has taken place into these countries which include the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. The immigration policies of these countries have been in line with their requirements for economic development, but these policies have also meant that the immigrant accepting societies have also a responsibility towards providing care of the elderly migrants who have contributed to their new countries in their younger years. The United Kingdom is now moving towards becoming a cohesive and well integ rated society which includes citizens who were formerly from many Commonwealth countries such as Pakistan, India, Hong Kong, West Indies, South Africa and Nigeria etc, to name a few. The government in the United Kingdom has been conscious of its responsibilities to the society and a considerable effort has been made by the government to ensure that

The Dominican Republic and Haiti Conflict Essay

The Dominican Republic and Haiti Conflict - Essay Example This is a real life incident. It is the difference people see in two countries and the unnecessary disputes occurring due to it, that has made me identify Betty's story with this novel. Betty from America and Moody from Iran are married for a long time. They are settled in the US and they have a very young daughter, Mahtob. For some reason, Moody starts missing his family. He convinces his wife to go to Tehran to visit his family. Betty is familiar with the violence going on in Iran and she hesitates. Finally realizing her husband's desire to visit his family, she yields and makes him swear on the Koran to return in two weeks' time. Thus they set out happily to Iran. Betty only receives an unwelcoming welcome from Moody's family. The moment she sets her foot in Iran she is demanded to adapt to an Iranian style of dressing. She is asked to wear the black veil and for accidentally exposing her hair on the forehead she nearly gets arrested. The days of long suffering begin for Betty. She finds the ways and means of Moody's family rather unpleasant. She realizes that they are unhappy about Moody being Americanized. Her husband's family turns out to be fanatically devout Muslims. The only thing that kept her moving was the thought of getting back to the US in the scheduled time. Towards the end of Towards the end of the planned vacation, Moody declares that they are not going back. He explains he got fired from his job for being a Muslim. Since it is hard to find a job again in the US, he plans to find one in Iran itself. Betty is alarmed. She tries to convince him to go back to Iran and that she does not want Mahtob to grow up in Iran. They end up in an argument. He beats her up and takes custody of her money, credit card and identity card and prisons her in her sister-in-law's house. Betty tries to get the help of her mother and gets information about an embassy contract. Under suspicion, Moody cuts all the telephone connections. Somehow, she sneaks out of the house to the Swiss Embassy to find methods to leave home. There she learns that getting married to Moody has made her an Iranian citizen. The only way to get back to the US is to be done with his permission. Getting a divorce helps, but only Betty shall be allowed to leave and Moody will get the custody of the kid. Moody's suspicion grow day by day. Betty is put under the scrutiny of his unsympathetic relatives all the time. When her plans to run away seem a distant dream she starts to play the role of an obedient devout Muslim wife. She attends Koran classes, learns to speak Iranian language. They celebrate Mahtob's birthday. When it is time for her to start school, Mahtob is enrolled in a Muslim school. Betty is given the opportunity to accompany her daughter to school. At her Koran classes she finds an American woman and befriends her. With her help Betty tries to mail a letter. But she ends up beaten by her husband for helping Betty secretly. The contact ends there. Moody slowly loosens the grip. He trusts her to visit the market. There she finds a man who is a part of the underground network that helps American women who are held hostages by husbands, to leave to their nation. The various processes go on. Meanwhile Betty's father falls sick and when she demands to visit him, Moody arranges a ticket for her. However, Mahtob is not allowed to go with her. He also demands her to