“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that you cannot sincerely try to help another person without actually helping yourself.”
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Ralph Waldo Emerson
You might have heard all sorts of myths about social work. There are some who say it is a corrupt sector, and others believe that anybody can call themselves a social worker. Both these are only myths and misconceptions. But there are so many misconceptions about every profession in this world. For example, lawyers are great at lying, and they are home-breakers. Well, all kinds of people have an opinion about anything and everything.
We want to bust some myths and misconceptions about social work in this in-depth and informative article. If you want to know about the common social work misconceptions, dive into this article right now.
Misconception #1 Social Workers Separate Families
You’ve probably seen movies where kids are separated from their families. It’s tragic, isn’t it? The thought of it makes you angry. But a social worker does not do that! Social workers think of the safety of kids, and then take the necessary steps to remedy that. They cannot take the children away from the family, but yes, they ensure that the home is fit enough for the child. Not every individual can be a parent. Social workers are there to improve the lives of children.
Misconception #2 Social Workers Are Underpaid
Well, many people think that social workers do not get paid well, but it is not true. Senior level social workers are earning a good salary. If you are working for one of the top organizations, you will get a good monthly salary and other perks. Qualified social workers get their dues, so it is untrue that they are underpaid.
Misconception #3 There Is No Progress/Future in Social Work Sector
People think that social workers don’t have a future. They will continue working for a cause, and then they will go jobless. This is a thought planted in many heads. Social workers can be promoted to senior social workers, directors, and they can head a team of volunteers.
One can find jobs in a consultancy, and also work for the government. There is a lot of scope in the social work sector.
Misconception #4 Social Workers Disrupt Other People’s Lives
Social workers do not disrupt anyone’s lives. They try to improve the lives of children and anyone who is abused in the past. They pay attention to people’s needs and are aware of human rights. Social workers will only get involved when they want to protect the child or the people who are being abused. For example, a family is treating their dog well, and another one is locking them up the whole day and not giving food. The latter is an offense, and the social worker can intervene.
Misconception #5 Anyone can call themselves a senior social worker
First of all, nobody can be a social worker without the proper credentials and qualifications. The social worker should have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. Once they have the qualifications, they can become interns or sign up for jobs. Helping others is a great trait, but not everyone is a qualified social worker till they get the degrees and work in top organizations.
Misconception #6 Social Worker Jobs Are For Women
Oh no! This is the biggest misconception. You find a lot of men who are working for society. Social work is not a female-oriented professional. Men can also join the force, and bring a change in society. Male social workers can educate other men to be kind and promote women working and getting equal treatment. It’s important to have more men in the social work sector because then there will be a positive change.
Misconception #7 Social Workers Do Not Have Feelings
Whoever thinks that social workers do not have feelings has never met an influential social activist. You have to meet a few social workers to understand that they have feelings too. It is because of the empathetic feelings that they joined the sector and want to bring a change. Social workers see a lot of violence and broken hearts everyday. They try to help as many people without getting torn apart or feeling depressed. They are strong people with intense emotions. If they didn’t have emotions, they would not be in the social work sector.
Misconception #8 Social Work Is Only a Job For People
Not really! Social workers are very passionate about what they do. They want to end discrimination and injustice. They also want to bring positive changes in people’s lives.
Social workers can bring a positive change in people’s lives. They try to create an impact by being there for people, raising awareness, funds, and helping as many abused individuals.
Concluding Thoughts
People think social work jobs are for selfish people who do not have feelings. They think that these social workers separate families, and mint money from the public. None of this is true which is why we urge you to break free from these misconceptions and respect the profession. If you want to join the social work sector, it is the most selfless job, and yes, there is a lot of scope too.