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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page article critique that examines Berkman and Zinberg's 1997 study of level of homophobia and heterosexual bias among social workers. The writer summarizes and critiques this research. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_kharhomo.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
populations that they serve. Nevertheless, there is evidence that social workers tend to absorb the "explicit and implicit" biases that are held by mainstream culture, including negative bias against gay
and lesbian populations. The attitudes of social workers towards gays and lesbians is explored by Berkman and Zinberg in their 1997 study. The following critique explores this study in detail
and its implications for social work. A primary objective for the researchers in exploring this topic was to address ethical considerations. Berkman and Zinberg (1997) realize that "homosexual clients are
apt to bring many of the same problems to counseling as heterosexual clients," but that these problems are frequently complicated by either the heterosexual bias of mainstream society or the
real or imagined bias of those to whom they turn for help (p. 319). Therefore, ethical considerations demand that this topic should be fully explored. The literature review begins
by exploring the history of the classification of homosexuality, pointing out that it was considered in terms of pathology until the early 1970s. The studies conducted in the early 1990s
by Hidalgo and Murphy are particularly relevant to this topic. These studies indicate that there is inadequate attention paid to homosexuality in social work education and that "social workers and
counselors who maintain homophobic attitudes are less effective, if not actually harmful, in delivering social services" to these clients (p. 319). The literature review also indicates that the Berkman and
Zinberg study was sorely needed as this topic has been rarely addressed in social work empirical research. The authors assert that study design employed a large probability sample of
social workers with a high degree of generalizability. It was cross-sectional and randomly selected. The researchers sent out 376 questionnaires to 188 men and 188 women, with anonymity guaranteed and
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