What is the “Sandbox?”
As a self-described late-bloomer, I “discovered” social work in my mid-thirties. Currently, I am a graduate student working towards a Ph.D. in social work. This blog is a place for me to explore, discover, and basically think aloud about social work – practice issues, research (especially insider/outsider themes), ethics, theory, education and policy and politics.
I think a lot about social work history and social work current issues. I question whether this chosen profession is more about social control than social justice. I think a lot about race, power, privilege and the impact “professionalization” has had on the work we do.
As a first generation immigrant to the United States, as a person of color, as a feminist, as a former recipient of child welfare and social work services (in two countries), and as a mother, all of these experiences impact my social work perspective.
This blog is the place where I will process my thoughts, opinions and feelings about being a social worker and about social work education and about being a future social work researcher and teacher some day.
I like to think of this blog as a “sandbox” because it’s a place to explore and discover, not a place to be authoritative and have all the answers. What I’ll be expressing here are my thoughts and ideas and opinions about things. I don’t claim to have all the answers or any of them.
Along with that metaphor, I ask that visitors to the sandbox be respectful, play nice with each other, and have the same spirit of discovery and self-reflection. Comments will be moderated to prevent spam and trolls, but will otherwise be published as long as they are respectful to others.
JaeRan Kim 