Unit 4 IP4 PSYC 422 Subsystems within Community Psychology
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Unit 4 IP4 PSYC 422 Subsystems within Community Psychology
Social change is a complex process because it is accompanied by various obstacles and hindrances that stop the agent of change or a social worker to enforce it. Although it is hard to implement change, it is equally essential to bring about change in order to promote the welfare of the community members. In the community selected, the change will be necessary because it will ensure that everything in the community is geared towards the happiness of every member of the community. In this process, there some anticipated challenges, and they are likely to jeopardize the change process. Approaches should be put in place to ensure that the proposed change is successful despite the obstacles.
Issues Anticipated
The anticipated issue that could hinder the change process is the lack of proper communication with the community members about the change. For the change process to be successful, there should be effective communication between the agent of change and the community (Onyiego, 020). People must be given a good reason for embracing the change process. This is a goal that can only be achieved through successful communication. Communication is the key to a successful change process, and this means if there is no successful interaction with the key stakeholders, the change will eventually fail.
The other challenge expected in the process of change is the shortage of the resources needed for successful change. In order to successfully enforce in the selected community, both human and non-human resources must be readily available; otherwise, the change will not be successful (Onyiego, 020). Following the socioeconomic factors of the selected community, some needed resources might be scarce, which has a negative implication in the process of change. The community resources are mostly directed towards the activities that will generate income; this could affect some processes and practices meant to bring change in the community.
The most prevalent obstacle to change is the cultural and religious beliefs in the community. For many years, this community has held its cultural and religious beliefs, which controls most of its economic and social activities. The proposed social change is likely to interfere with some of the beliefs that existed for many years, and for that reason, it might be hard to alter them. It is increasingly hard to change the beliefs that this community has held since the beginning of time (Lutta, 2015). Further, some individuals within the community could reject the change because they may see it as a threat to the culture. Lack of community support could present the most significant opposition and challenge in the process of change. For a change to occur, the collaboration of the social workers and the community members in need.
The politics and leadership within the community could be perceived as another obstacle towards change. The political powers and the leadership in this community are very influential; this has a negative implication on the social change because the politicians might criticize and politicize it. Lack of support from the political sphere could hinder the transition from the old to the new practice. Finally, the politicians could create a political environment that is hostile to the agent of change.
Changes Needed
The first type of change that this needed in this community is related to their cultural practices. The issue that requires changes is wife inheritance. This is a critical health issue that requires immediate change. The best type of change is the planned one because to address the identified need, and some strategies must be put in place. Wife inheritance is a practice that is very common among this community, and it put many at health risk as to the number of those who are HIV positive keeps rising (Liebenberg, 2018). The proposed change is focused on educating the community members of the health risks that are associated with the practice and how the entire community is affected. This change will be beneficial because the health risks presented by this practice will reduce drastically. When the community is in good health, their economic productivity will be enhanced.
The other crucial social need identified is the empowering of the male child in this community. Like in many other communities globally, males are believed to be strong, which hinders them from achieving support from the community. This problem can be addressed by establishing programs that are not gender-biased to empower both males and females equally. These programs should educate the youths regardless of gender and provide them with the skills that will make them self-sufficient. The young males suffer in poverty as the community has placed high expectations on them. They are expected to help their parents and siblings with the little they get from casual labor. Empowering this population will be beneficial to them and the entire community because poverty will reduce (Liebenberg, 2018). When the youths are empowered through education and training, they contribute to a better community as they contribute to everyone’s welfare. Furthermore, most of the families will benefit from the proposed change.
References
Liebenberg, L. (2018). Thinking critically about photovoice: Achieving empowerment and social change. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 17(1), 1609406918757631.
Lutta, C. (2015). The traditional levirate custom: As practiced by Luo of Kenya.
Onyiego, A. K. (2020). Symbolism and Gender among the Late Pre-Colonial Luo People in Northern Tanzania: Lessons on How to Interpret African Mythical Traditions. Tanzania Zamani, 11(2).