Empowering the Marginalized: Social Work and the Working Poor Experience

Abstract

Social work and marginalized poor experiences Marginalization is a form of inequality that exposes some people to social exclusion attributed to historical bias and lack of funding (Ehrenreich, 2018). Paying close attention to the nature of social work that remains grounded on social change and development, social cohesion and empowerment, and liberation of people, one can conclude that experiencing marginalization of the poor can best help enhance individual and collective well-being. According to Lee (2020), a social worker must address the discrimination and oppression embedded within cultural norms and social structure that results in the marginalization of the poor (Lee, 2020). A social worker holds professional qualifications directed to meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, communities, groups, and society as a whole thus incorporating these academic qualifications with experiences at hand, such a person becomes well-equipped with effective strategies to address the social problems noted for the betterment of the marginalized. While experience is the best teacher, it is open that having a firsthand experience of the marginalization of the poor reduces assumptions and thus can help the social worker to act by all me and to enhance equality for all and eradicate discrimination by intervening with the right parties with areas of concern for the betterment of all. Ehrenreich (2018) poses a great example of a social worker that went miles ahead to engage with the working poor experiences to lay a strong foundation on how to address such experiences for the well-being of the affected Americans in the long run. It is Ehrenreich experiences of the low-wage and long working hours that defined clear pictures of the effects of marginalization of the poor working Americans whose efforts do not provide a living wage thus the need for consideration. A social worker has open chances to help the most vulnerable within society live a better life. As a social worker, one has a great chance to help needy clients find the right agencies to provide the needed assistance and even help such clients fill out the required documents such as those required to receive food stamps. While the cost of living is very high in the United State and low wages expose many American workers to a working poor experience thus lacking even the basics like nutritional diets, as a social worker, one can consider the most eligible and enroll them in social programs like the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Programs (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or even offer funds or foodstuffs from well-wishers to cater for the noted basic need. The food problem is best addressed through the provision of such foodstuffs thus with the right recommendations on the available programs, consideration of what well-wishers offer, and dividing it among the needy as well as provision of food through their savings, a social...