Open AccessReflections on social work in practice
Author(s) -
Shovita Dhakal Adhikari
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
comparative social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.131
H-Index - 2
ISSN - 0809-9936
DOI - 10.31265/jcsw.v6i1.54
Subject(s) - caste , sociology , work (physics) , social work , rural community , gender studies , community work , task (project management) , social group , social science , socioeconomics , political science , law , management , engineering , mechanical engineering , economics
This essay reflects on my community work in a rural village located approximately 70 km from Kathmandu in Nepal. As a social worker, my task was to help integrate people from the Dalit (lower) caste in their local community. The assignment proved to be a challenge, not only because I lacked practical knowledge but also because I belonged to a different caste group, the so-called Brahmin, i.e. the upper caste. In this essay, I discuss how the fact that I am from an upper caste affected my work. The essay attempts to bring forth the problems that I encountered, particularly the critical incidents, and my critical reflections on being a social worker.