1

Module 2 Reflective Journal

Shyterria Sims

School of Social Work, Texas State University

SOWK 4310 Diversity and Social Justice in Social Work

Richard Wiley, Jr., MBA, MSW, MA

September 4, 2022
 2

Module 2 Reflective Journal

Social identity is something that everyone has gone through at some point in their lives.

After reading chapter one of our textbook, I learned that social identity is more than what others

view us as based on first look and that it changes as society does. It is self-selected, customized,

and individualized and in other ways, it is collectively constructed, shared with others, and at

times imposed (Miller & Garran 2017). Emotionally, I can understand more about why people

suffer with identity crises and struggle with it especially before it was accepted in society. Back

then, even now, people are still demeaning others and not situating themselves in a space to

sympathize those who are different from them ethically, racially, or even sexually. Prior to the

reading, I knew that racism can be experienced from all no matter the race. Reading about the

learning edge has shifted my perspective of racism from what I knew it was and how it affects

me and people like me to being aware of others and getting out of my comfort zone to only

acknowledging us to supporting others. From the reading, I learned that a “safe” environment

must be in place and established properly to further learning about all facets of social identity

and racism. Personally, I will apply what I learned by remembering that social identity is

personal as well as socially constructed. This would benefit me in life as I would first not assume

that a person is a particular way solely based on their race. Professionally, learning about social

identity will enable me to provide the resources needed for my clients, as well as understand

them on a level of knowledge rather than a level of perception.

 3

Resources

Social identity and situating ourselves. (2017). In J. Miller, & A. M. Garran, Racism in the

United States: implications for the helping professions (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing

Company.