This document outlines two assignments focused on exploring intersections of cultural identity and oppression, particularly in relation to religious discrimination, racism, sexism, and classism. The assignments invite students to analyze how personal and systemic factors influence perceptions of race and ethnicity, encouraging the application of cultural competence in social work practice. Students are required to engage with specific resources and reflect on their own experiences to better understand and address these complex issues.

1. Assignment 1:
Journal Entry:
Intersection and Religious Discrimination
When pieces of cloth are sewn together, you might have trouble
discerning the individual pieces of cloth that make the final
garment, but by looking carefully, you can find the seams. You
may have experienced similar difficulty in the first week of this
course when asked to explore the individual aspects of culture
that combine to create your unique self-identity. Forms of
oppression can come together often in almost imperceptible
ways to form the complex environment in which you and your
clients live and interact. As a social worker, you must examine
carefully the intersections between religious discrimination,
sexism, classism, and racism so you can respond accordingly.
To prepare:
Consider this week's resources that describe how religion
intersects with other forms of oppression.
Submit your response to those resources and analyze what you
think is the role of religion in reinforcing sexism, classism, and
racism.
As a social worker, how can you address these issues on a micro
and macro level?
Assignment 2: Race, Empowerment, and Cultural Competence
The ideas, attitudes, values, and beliefs with which people are
surrounded as they grow up inform their perceptions about
themselves and their place in the world. Family and religious
systems are usually the first place that people get messages
about themselves and others. Those messages can be positive
and illustrate how important it is to embrace difference, or they
can be full of hate and intolerance. For this Assignment,

2. consider how your own ideas about race and ethnicity have been
influenced by those around you.
Submit a 2-page paper that answers the following question:
How does your family and religious systems lead to your ideas
about your own racial ethnic group as well as the racial and
ethnic group of others?
Be sure to address the concepts of ethnocentric practice,
empowerment and cultural competence. Please use the Learning
Resources to support your answer.
References (use at least 2)
Cristol, D., & Gimbert, B. (2008). Racial perceptions of young
children: A review of literature post-1999.
Early Childhood Education Journal, 36
(2), 201–207.
Patcher, L. M., Szalacha, L. A., Bernstein, B., & Garcia Coil,
C. (2010). Perceptions of racism in children and youth:
Properties as a self-report instrument for research on children’s
health and development.
Ethnicity & Health, 15
(1), 33–46.
Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016).
Understanding human behavior and the social environment
(10th ed.)
.
Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Chapter 5 (pp. 254-294)