Civil War

The Rise of the Social Work Profession
During the Civil War, American women became active in public life.
Explain the role of women during this era. How was women's
involvement during this time a precursor to the development of the
social work profession? Describe the factors that led to the
development of the social work profession. Include in your analysis
how the two historical traditions of the settlement house
movement and the charity organizations influenced the structure of
the social work profession.How did the fledgling profession reflect
the values of the times? Have these values changed over the years?
How so? (Completed See attached)
Respond to one peer. Share what you learned from your peer's
post.

Peer – Some historians attribute the development of the modern U.S.
welfare state to the maternalist reform movement. Influenced by their
traditional roles and mothers and wives and the desire for gender
equality, the maternalist movement united women to politically
influence a variety of reforms. These included the creation of the
Children’s Bureau, child and women labor legislation, and improving
maternal and child health.
As mothers became responsible for financially supporting their family
and raise their children during this time period, women advocated for
policies to reconcile the conflicting roles placed on them. This led to
the creation of workmen’s compensation and mother’s pension, the
first step in welfare provided by the government. Leaders of the
Charity Organization and Settlement House movements came
together on behalf of social reform at the height of the reform
movement. The changing views of the family initiated the involvement
of organized charity in reform.
The development of the social work profession began with the
development of voluntary charitable associations after the Civil War.
It expanded with the growth of reform organizations and the
maternalist movement. Today, we still see the social work profession
focusing on meeting the needs of the population such as housing,
food, clothing, and utilities. We also see social work advocating for

the rights of different groups of people as well such as minorities,
immigrants, and the LGBTQ community.
Axinn, M.J.S. J. (2017). Social Welfare. [Capella]. Retrieved
from https://capella.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780134292960/

2. Describe how social welfare agencies discriminated against African
Americans and how these same systems may still oppress them.
Use your personal and work experience as well as course readings
to respond to this question. You may also need to do some outside
research. (done see attached)
Respond to at least two of your peers and respectfully challenge or
support their findings. Comment on findings that differ from your
own.
Peer 1-
Stern & Axinn (2012) explain that social welfare agencies, designed to
assist individuals in need, discriminated against African Americans even
though they were in need of help. This discrimination carried on, being
fueled by erratic and unwelcomed instigations such as a statement
implying that African Americans were not the worst in society but that
they would never be as great as the white race (Stern & Axinn, 2012). The
Civil Rights Act championed by Kennedy and signed into law by President
Lyndon Johnson after JFK's death succeeded in opening public
accommodations, such as hotels and restaurants.
The law's threatening to cut off federal funding forced the desegregation
of schools in the South. The Civil Rights Act was followed by separate
laws on voting rights in 1965 and fair housing in 1968 — again, with mixed
results. The Supreme Court has struck down the most powerful tool in
the Voting Rights Act to block discrimination at the voting booth. As a
result, states such as Texas and North Carolina have moved to reinstate
some restrictions. Progress on housing has been much slower. While the
Civil Rights Act opened up public accommodations, the Fair Housing Act
of 1968 has failed to markedly raise black home ownership rates, and
nearly six in 10 African Americans still live in segregated neighborhoods.
For all those reasons, economic and educational progress coupled with
problems still facing black families, rights leaders remain committed to
the cause.

Reference
Stern, M and Axinn, J. (2012). Social Welfare: A History of the American
Response to Need, 8th

Peer 2-

Social welfare agencies discriminated against African Americans through
exclusion because the legislation that was passed during the Progressive
Era affected women, children and workmen’s compensation by
those employed in industries where “black participation was minimal,”
(Stern & Axinn, 2018). Most of the needs and social problems of African
Americans were viewed as extensions of the problems of immigrants.
When specific needs were addressed, they were often remedied on a
segregated basis (Stern & Axinn, 2018).
I am not convinced African Americans are oppressed by the same welfare
systems. I look around and see African American people in positions of
government, providing leadership at universities, and accepting the
same jobs as other people. I am not ignorant, but there are things that
do not make sense to me. Policies and laws have changed significantly to
be more inclusive of all people.
People of all nationalities receive government assistance in the United
States. According to the United States Census Bureau, 335, 316 or 3.72% of
families with a householder who is Black or African American have an
annual income of more than $200,000. 4.3% of families with a
householder who is Black or African American have an annual income of
$10,000 to $14,999 (census.gov). According to StatisticBrains.com, 39.8%
of welfare recipients are Black, while 38.8% of welfare recipients are
White. Why is there not a greater discrepancy of races if African
Americans continue to be oppressed?

www.statisticbrain.com/welfare-statistics
Stern, M. J., & Axinn, J. (2018). Social welfare: A history of the American
response to need (9th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson