School or Rock

Social Work with Groups

ISSN: 0160-9513 (Print) 1540-9481 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wswg20

Talking with Adolescents About Race and Ethnicity:
What a Group Worker Needs
Irene Shen MSW
To cite this article: Irene Shen MSW (2004) Talking with Adolescents About Race and
Ethnicity: What a Group Worker Needs, Social Work with Groups, 26:3, 61-76, DOI: 10.1300/
J009v26n03_07
To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J009v26n03_07

Published online: 08 Sep 2008.

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Download by: [University College Dublin]

Date: 23 February 2016, At: 10:36

Talking with Adolescents
About Race and Ethnicity:
What a Group Worker Needs
Downloaded by [University College Dublin] at 10:36 23 February 2016

Irene Shen

ABSTRACT. This paper discusses two necessary characteristics of a
group worker who is exploring issues of race and ethnicity with adolescents. These two characteristics are: (1) the knowledge and ability to explain systems of oppression, especially as they relate to racial and ethnic
oppression, and (2) a secure and positive sense of self. Discussions of
race and ethnicity are not exclusive to groups which have workers with
these characteristics; however, groups with workers who exhibit these characteristics will engage in dialogues of greater depth, honesty, and authenticity. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery
Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address:
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rights reserved.]

KEYWORDS. Race, ethnicity, People of Color, systems of oppression,
positive sense of self, group work, adolescents

Fear stymies the depth at which discussions about race and ethnicity...