1816686 MUHAMMED ALIU BABATUNDE

MY SOCIAL LOCATIONS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Sociology is a field that has some knowledge related to social work profession. A
social worker is therefore expected to be versed in the sociological terms related to
his or her profession. This research main aim is to examine the concept of social
division in relation to social location and identity as a tool for social workers in
tackling inequalities in our society. The experience of the writer will throw more
light into the example of social location at some given time and location and how
it could be used to a better cause in the future practice of social work.

SOCIAL LOCATION

Social location is defined as:

“the dynamic positions we occupy in society based on our social background,
social characteristics and social experiences; it is where we stand now, where we
come from and the possibilities of where we are going” (Daynes 2017:7). Social
location is usually defined by person`s gender, race, social class, age, ability,
religion, sexual orientation and geographical location. (Payne 2006). Social
divisions which are class, race, gender, age, disability, sexuality, language group,
religion and sexual identity are all important features of identifying one´s social
location (Payne 2013). It is therefore a necessary norm for person to understand
how to exist as an individual within his or her location directly or indirectly by
learning the situation of the society through exposure or absorption (Gibson and
Yuill 2011).
Also, social identity is an integral part of this research. Social identity comes about
in a situation that people feel the importance of being part of a group, whereby
identical traits are shared with other groups (Marsh and Keating 2006).
As a young man from West Africa (Nigeria), coming to Europe I saw myself as a
citizen of the world. My social identity gave me the belongingness to a particular
group and tribe (Yoruba) and a particular religion (Islam). The view of seeing the
world as one is from the teaching of my religion Islam, unfortunately I was proven
wrong.
My cultural identity made me who I am today and who I wish to become (social
worker) in the near future and couple with my European exposure. I was brought
up in a community where despite my cultural and religious identity, is a multi-
ethnic and multi-religious community. We grew up to see ourselves as same. The
norms and values among the Yoruba tribe is giving reverence to elders, obeying
parents and looking after them at old age. We believe in seeing everyone as
ourselves. These are part of the qualities I retain till date.
Also, despite my religious affiliation, I went to Christian primary and secondary
schools in my locality. I have some knowledge of biblical teachings with my
Islamic background. I have been prepared for the world right from my childhood,
haven passed through the family, wider community, institutions (Islamic and
western knowledge) and peers, which are all agents of socialisation and part of my
identity (Marsh and Keating 2006)), I have no iota of discrimination in my mind as
I grew up.
In the context of social work, social location and identity are essential tool to use in
working as professionally conscious social worker. Humans are created differently,
with different colours, languages, ethnicity and religions. Working in such a diverse
environment, one is bound to face discrimination because everyone will be
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identified differently (Thompson 2016). Discrimination and oppression are caused

by division of social structure, Anti-discriminatory practice will be a compulsory
knowledge to add to the practice of a social worker because the profession itself is
based on preventing discrimination and oppression. Good practice is simply what
anti-discriminatory practice mean. Social worker will be responsible for a wider
consultation with different people in the society, his or her action could be said to
be ‘double edge’ which has care and control. He will be seen as a mediator in the
affairs of his clients (Thompson 2016). However, the resultant effect of
discrimination in any society is oppression. Oppression can therefore be said to be
prevalent in a society due to the level of discrimination therein (Thompson 2018).
Discrimination, oppression and anti-discriminatory policy will form large part of
this write-up.

MY SOCIAL LOCATION EXPERIENCES

It is important in this research to express my thought about my experience in my

social location. My experiences will be based on locating myself ethnic and
religious wise. I moved to Finland as a master’s degree student in 2009. My thought
before leaving Nigeria was that I was going to a greener pasture where I would be
able to use my degree after graduation. Finland is a country in the northern part of
Europe. Finland is a closed society where it is difficult for a person of ethnic
minority to find a befitting job irrespective of your academic background. I studied
master’s degree in public management with the belief of securing a management
job on graduation. The job never came. The jobs that are reserved for foreigners are
menial jobs like cleaning and dishwashing etc. It came as a shock to me, but I just
have to move on with life. This experience is categorized as ethnic diversity
problem. (YLE News 2019).
The second experience is when I got to Amsterdam on a flight to Manchester from
Helsinki. As EU citizen I have the privilege of using a self-service machine to check
into the country. To my amazement the machine said I should seek for help from
the immigration personnel. An immigration came and told me my name was in their
system. I was surprised, shock and dejected. It was my first time of flying through
Schipol Airport Amsterdam. I was wondering what could have happened. He took
my passport, went into the system room and returned without any apology just
‘have a nice trip’. On my return from Manchester to Helsinki it happened again. I
met a friendly immigration personnel and he told me that my surname is the
problem. I then jokingly told him; maybe I have to change my surname so I will be
able to move freely. We both laughed. I hid my discontentment in the laughter.

UNDERSTANDING MY SOCIAL LOCATIONS SOCIOLOGICALLY

Ethnic and religion are two components of social identity which are parts of
sociological study. They are both part of social division that determine an individual
location in a society (Geoff 2016)
Ethnicity is a class of social division which also leads to inequality in the society,
Humans prefer to live among their people ethnically and racially, but economic
struggle changes that in some cases. Ethnicity is seen as a term used to explain
cultural differences among groups of people in the society. It has the advantage of
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helping us to focus on behaviours of social groups and helps in reliance on shared

identity. (Marsh and Keating 2006). Ethnicity could lead to ethnocentrism which is
the viewing of any issue from the viewpoint of a particular cultural background.
This could lead to prejudice and bias and could later lead to racism. (Marsh and
Keating 2006).
Religion on the other hand is defined as “a system of symbols which acts to establish
powerful, pervasive, and long-lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating
conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with
such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seen uniquely realistic”
(Geert 1975 in Marsh and Keating 2006:664). Religion has brought about positive
things in human lives: it brings about unity and togetherness (Marsh and Keating
2006). However, some see religion as source of terrorism and radicalism. Also, it
is seen by others as a source of social division in the society (Marsh and Keating
2006).
Ethnic and religion play large role in my life. My religion brought about my
resilience and coping mentality to survive in any situation I find myself in. I was
taught to belief that all human is one irrespective of colour, sex, ethnic or class.
This has been my motivating factor all my life. I see everyone I come across as my
blood irrespective of the nationality. That is why I see myself as a citizen of the
world wherever I meet myself.
Moreover, my religion taught me how to identify extremist behaviours in the
religion. In the world today, we have a lot of extremism in the religion. I blamed
the immigration less on one hand because it is the behaviour of some few in the
religion. But also, I blame them because every muslim with muslim sounding
names have been stereotyped as terrorists.

THEORISING SOCIAL LOCATION EXPERIENCE (THOMPSON’S MODEL)

As a future social worker, it is compulsory on me to have a good knowledge of

social work theories. It is also part of the HCPC requirement that a social worker
must have the necessary theoretical knowledge of social work and anti-oppressive
practice, to be able to protect the interest of the service users and be accountable to
whatever comes out of working as a social worker (Maclean and Harrison 2015).
Therefore, I will be using Thompson’s PCS analysis. This analysis explained that
to understand the meaning of oppression and discrimination, there are three
interwoven subsets that determine it which are: personal, cultural and structural
(Thompson 2018). The personal aspect explains that the way individual thinks,
feels and react have a greater impact on inequality and oppression. This has to do
with people of authority using their powers to cause discrimination and inequality
in the society (Thompson 2018). The cultural aspect as to do with the way a
particular cultural group become so engrossed in their cultural ways that they take
others for granted (Thompson 2018). Everybody is expected to conform with their
cultural values and whoever do not follow will be ostracised in the society (Maclean
and Harrison 2015). The structural aspect emphasizes on structures that influence
society which could be social, economic and political structures (Thompson 2018).
Moreover, theorising my social location experience, I would be examining the
structural and personal aspect of the model. Finland is a small country that promotes
everything Finnish. As a new immigrant in Finland, I was faced with different kinds
of challenges because I was trying to socialise into a new and different kinds of
culture that are strange to my Yoruba and Nigerian culture (Best 2005). The system
of integration is not well defined in Finland therefore we find it difficult to integrate
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as students. Integration is well defined for asylum seeker but not students. The
nationalistic display of Finnish is exceptional around Europe. In a survey conducted
by YLE News in 2014, Finns were seen as intolerant, nationalistic and patriotic
(YLE News 2014).
With their intolerant nature, it is difficult for foreigners to find meaningful jobs in
Finnish job market. After I completed a master’s degree in public management from
one of Finland’s prestigious universities University of Vaasa, my hope of getting a
good job with my degree was dashed after several applications. Private and public
establishments refused to employ you once they see your name. They are not
interested in what you wanted to offer once you are not a Finn. There are reports of
foreigners feeling depressed after searching everywhere for job (YleNews 2019).
What they usually capitalize on is that you need to speak Finnish language before
you can get employed (JYLKKARI 2014). Even if you are able to speak the
language you still find it difficult to get a job. In the PCS analysis, this is more of
structural discrimination. I felt discriminated upon by the Finnish structure.
Recently, it was raised in the Helsinki city council that they should carry out
recruitment of individuals into the council anonymously due to wide spread
discrimination in recruitment (YleNews 2018).
It is therefore important to understand that this is institutional discrimination that
will later be viewed as oppression.
Also, my contact with immigration on several occasions at Amsterdam airport is
viewed by me as discrimination. First my colour, and secondly my religion. I have
Finnish citizenship and it is my right to enjoy all the benefit of being a European.
Getting stopped at the airport on different occasions gave me the feeling of being
discriminated upon. I was told my name is in their system on countless time and all
I got after the search is ‘have a nice trip’. The anger of the crime of a few criminals
should not be vented on all others that are innocent. PCS analysis sees this as
personal and also structural. Personal in the sense that the immigration might just
feel that this is another terrorist with my surname being Muhammed, and it is
institutional because it is the software itself that detected my name and alerted the
immigration personnel. This system is discrimination.

CONCLUSION
Haven gone through various forms of discrimination and oppression at one form of
the other, I understand that the study of anti-discrimination and oppression is a
compulsory tool in the kit of a prospective social worker. My background and my
training helped me to surmount most of these challenges. My religion also played
a vital role in identifying world challenges and how to tackle them. My experiences
would give me the opportunity to understand the feelings of people that are
suffering from oppression and discrimination, because I was once in their shoes.
Also, my knowledge of different types of theories of anti-discrimination and
oppression will give me the opportunity of assisting with a better solution.

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REFERENCES

Best, S. (2005). Understanding social divisions. London: SAGE.

Dayne, Rosemary (2007:5). Social Location and Practising as an Ally in

Community Development. Retrieved online on 11/02/2019.
http://kimmagedsc.ie/wp-
content/uploads/2013/10/rosemary_daynessmallpdf.com_.pdf

Gibson, A., & Yuill, C. (2011). Sociology for social work: An introduction.
London: SAGE.

JYLKKARI. Retrieved online on 21/02/2019.

https://www.jylkkari.fi/2014/04/central-finland-is-tough-on-foreigners-looking-
for-work/

Marsh, I., & Keating, M. (2013). Sociology: Making sense of society (5th ed.).
Harlow: Pearson Education.

Maclean, S., & Harrison, R. (2015). Theory and practice: A straightforward guide
for social work students (3rd ed.). Lichfield, United Kingdom: Kirwin Maclean
Associates Ltd.

Payne, G. (2006). Social divisions (2nd ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Payne, G. (2013). Social divisions (3rd ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Thompson, N. (2016). Anti-discriminatory practice: Equality, diversity and social

justice (6th ed.). Basingstoke, United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan.

YleNews (Depression). Retrieved 11.02.2019.

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finns_on_finns_were_hard_working_but_greedy
_and_intolerant/7370176

YleNews (Finns intolerant). Retrieved 12.02.2019.

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finns_on_finns_were_hard_working_but_greedy
_and_intolerant/7370176

YleNews (anonymous recruitment). Retrieved 22.02.2019.

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/helsinki_city_council_to_implement_anonymous_recruit
ment/10527638
NB. FINNISH NEWSPAPERS ARE GOOD SOURCE OF REFERENCE IN FINLAND.
YLE NEWS IS THEIR NATIONAL MEDIA HOUSE.