Author Uncovers Unconscious Stigma When Aiding Clients

Publications

By Paul R. Pace

Tracy Robinson Whitaker said she had feelings of contradiction when she was a direct service provider.

“When I looked at some of the things that we, as social workers, expect of clients, I was frequently surprised by how difficult meeting those expectations would have been for me,” Whitaker explains. “It made me wonder why we structure our services the way we do.”

Whitaker, DSW, ACSW, associate professor at the Howard University School of Social Work, said when she began teaching, she also noticed that during role-play exercises, students often would assume the persona of a belligerent, uncooperative client.

“I wondered why students defaulted to this characterization, since my experience with people seeking help was so different,” she said.

Her NASW Press book, “Transformational Empathy: Erasing the Space between Us and Them,” arose from a desire to bridge this gap between how social workers see clients and how we see ourselves, Whitaker said. She noted social work is a highly valuable profession, and its members are deeply dedicated to improving the lives of the people they serve and society.

It is vital that social workers continuously question their assumptions to make sure they are not unconsciously promoting stigma, Whitaker said. “The best possibility is that if we ourselves were in need, we would feel comfortable receiving services anywhere that social workers worked. I’m dedicated to helping us get there.”