Redefining relations among minority users and social workers

Abstract

In a global society, social practice must be imbued with an appreciation of both cultural differences and complex power relationships if services are to be adapted to people's varied needs and lifestyles. The aim of this paper is to contribute to reflective practices and engagement with indigenous people's worldviews and with the social worker's own views and perspectives when practising social work. The authors argue that social workers must learn to consciously reflect on historical facts of discrimination and recognise their political consequences while being sensitive to cultural minorities in a helping context. Reflectivity equips social workers from majority cultures with a greater ability to reflect and re-define power positions as well as create premises for ‘good help’ when working with users from minority groups. Data for the study include qualitative interviews with Sámi users of the Norwegian health and welfare system and Norwegian social workers. Analysis was carried out following a phenomenological approach.