Sociology and Race: For Colored Girls

For Colored Girls is a movie that intertwines seven different stories of Black or African American women facing numerous issues in their daily lives (Dargis). The character of Joanne, played by Janet Jackson (lady in red), is conspicuous and selected for this paper. This report explores Joannes issues and concerns in light of strength-based biophysical assessment. A variety of factors of this assessment would be linked to this character to present an understanding of pertaining racial issues and the need for support for the client.

I. Description of the Client

The client, Joanne, is the same as Janet Jackson; in reality, which is 50-55 years. She is a famous magazine editor and is a strong independent woman. Regarding race, she is a Black woman with a husband who is not sexually interested in her. Her sexual orientation is normal; however, that of her husband is not. She belongs to the upper class, as her house and lifestyle are extravagant. Her income is patently massive, which is evident from her lifestyle. She lives alone with her partner only and currently has no children. She must be educated and qualified enough to be designated with a high rank in the magazine firm. However, her health condition is not fine, which she came to know quite late. She has HIV/Aids. She came to know from her husband, who claimed not to be gay but had sex with men (Perry).

II. Presenting Issues And Concerns

It appears that Joannas intense immersion into her work created a remoteness towards her husband as they were not engaged sexually. This might have triggered her husband to direct himself to men and that, too, to satisfy his sexual desire. Although he could have turned to women to fulfilling her same needs, sadly, this was not the case. Joannas financial and emotional control, which she has over her husband, made him feel tied into knots, for which he only found a way out by having sex with men. This could be possible that he was not going to trust women again and therefore decided to hand himself over to men, which was disturbing for Joanna. She initially did not know what was wrong with her physically and emotionally until she found out about her husband.

The revelation of her disease, for which she knew her husband was responsible, was the most devastating time of her life. The confession of her husband that he sleeps with men was an emotional and psychological torture for her with the loathsome infection she had to deal with for the rest of her life. Also, the excruciating pain that she could feel inside when her husband felt it was his right to spend her wifes hard-earned money without her consent or telling her how much he had spent was disturbing her inside.

III. Assessment of Relevant Contextual, Historical, and Interpersonal Factors

A. Current context

Joannas family consists of herself and her husband. Her social community belongs to her office and other characters in the movie. No current problem exists in her family and social community except having issues with her husband.

The clients basic needs are met as she...…their cultural issues are intervened appropriately is a part of the therapeutic process. The lack of cultural understanding gives rise to the deficiency of cultural competence that a social worker needs. It causes African Americans an obstacle to reaching out to healthcare professionals for mental health support (Hughes 2). Therefore, the underutilization of mental health services is often seen in this community at a high rate.

Certain ethics in social work include showing respect to African American clients who need counseling or psychological help. Their poverty, gender, race, or sensitive health condition, just as in the case of Joanna, who was suffering from Aids, should be dealt with integrity (Fletcher et al. 121). Personal opinions from the social workers should not be exposed and must only prompt the client to talk about his or her issues. Making judgments is against ethical practice as their body language and gesture must not be perceived wrongly. For maintaining their privacy, especially of deep concern due to Joannas disease (AIDS) and belonging to a segregated ethnicity, confidentiality holds a significant place in ethical practice.

Moreover, beneficence and justice in providing healthcare, either physical or psychological, are two other ethics that should be maintained while catering to clients like Joanna. To prevent social stigma, Joanna must be treated with a surety that she is safe with the social worker and that her privacy will not be invaded for the sake of her treatment. The risk of her condition should be well-calculated so that possible social harms related to HIV illness do not lead her to social isolation, depression, and…