The courage to face yourself

About being a social worker in an unknown culture and in unfamiliar situations

Authors

  • Kajsa Liisa Høiland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v6i2.73

Abstract

I have called this essay, The courage to face yourself; in it, I use stories from my internship in Cuba to reflect on being a Norwegian social worker in another country. I also consider the many challenges that arise in this situation, and focus on the two different cultures and their attendant values, norms and morals. The stories are also about being a social worker in an unfamiliar culture and being in new situations. They are about the importance of getting to know yourself, daring to fully face yourself and having the courage to be the person you want to be, both privately and professionally. They are about developing yourself through interactions with others. They are about giving voice to the uncomfortable and incomprehensible. They are about having the courage to be yourself.

Author Biography

Kajsa Liisa Høiland

Student
University of Nordland
Norway

References

Bech-Karlsen, Jo (2003). Gode fagtekster. Essayskriving for begynnere. Oslo. Universitetsforlaget AS. 2nd printing.

Burkitt, n. (2008). Social Selves. Theories of self and society. London. Sage Publications. 2nd edition.

Henriksen, J. O. d Vetlesen, Ae Jn (2006). Nærhet og distanse. Grunnlag, verdier og etiske teorier i arbeid med mennesker. Oslo. Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS. 3rd edition, 3rd printing.

Løgstrup, Kd E: (1997). The Ethical Demand , University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame and Londo7.

Olsen, R. d Oltedal, Sv (2007). Blikk på praksis. Sosialarbeidere forteller fra yrkeslivet. Oslo. Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS.

Oltedal, Sv (2005). Kritisk sosialt arbeid. Å analysere i lys av teori og erfaringer. Oslo. Gyldendal Norsk Forlag.

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Published

2011-10-03

How to Cite

Høiland, K. L. (2011). The courage to face yourself: About being a social worker in an unknown culture and in unfamiliar situations. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 6(2), 147–154. https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v6i2.73

Issue

Section

Essays