Journal Article Review

The article Social Justice and Social Work written by Leroy H. Pelton, a well-known specialist in the sphere of social work and a professor at the School of Social work, the University of Nevada, can be found in the Journal of Social Work Education, Vol.37(3), 2001. As the article has a great deal of interesting ideas concerning the role of social work in our life and its interrelation to social justice, it can help those social work specialists who want to improve their knowledge in this sphere and to apply some ideas to social work education. My goal in this paper is to represent the brief summary of the above mentioned journal article which was accessed electronically and to express my opinion concerning the major ideas of the author.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL WORK BY LEROY H. PELTON
Leroy H. Pelton, as a skilled social work educator, discusses the role of social work in our society. He argues that the major mission of social work is “the promotion of social justice”. Of course, each individual has its own notion of the word justice. He considers that justice is always impersonal, and it cannot be judgemental. According to Leroy H. Pelton, social work, as well as justice, depends on the individual. Moreover, social work can be successful in case the individual does not violate. (Pelton, 2001, p.433)
The author of the article discusses the issue concerning the role of social welfare policies in the United States. He is sure that some individuals are treated better than the other ones in regard to social welfare policies. It is wrong. If a community fights in the course of justice, all of its members should be treated equally, without discrimination. In this case, social work will promote the community.
Moreover, Leroy H. Pelton identifies some implications of this issue on justice in regard to social work, social policies and social work education. He states that race, gender and ethnicity problems can lead to different acts of discrimination what influences social work to a great extent. The author proves this fact using a number of examples. Thus, some social welfare policies including differential benefits to the individuals who are in need depend on the constructed group they belong to. The author considers that all social groups should be treated equally. It is wrong to divide the poor into two groups: needy black people and needy white.
One more important issue discussed in the article concerns social work researches. The author states that social scientists violate social justice when they conduct their researches based on group constructs. They obscure some important “issues of justice and fairness to individuals”. (Pelton, 2001, p.435) The author is sure that the major goal of social workers is to be true to their mission. It means that they should not only benefit each individual in need, but also they should make certain changes in the system in order to treat the individuals without discrimination.
In addition, the author represents a lot of useful recommendations for those students who study social work. One of the most important Pelton’s recommendations is based on the principle of nondiscrimination. Social workers should feel human sufferings. Moreover, they should do everything possible to eliminate them. Just social work practice is based on just policies and structures, that is why it‘s very important to understand the role of justice in social work. The author of the article states that social work education should be focused on positive practice philosophy which includes promotion of social justice and human rights, as well as human dignity. (Pelton, 2001, p.438)