Rose’s Story by Bibbs, Essay Example

By analyzing and questioning the social welfare program limitations, we have a chance to understand and learn not to blame the victim. Moreover, it is highly possible that it is from those people who suffer the strong effects of poverty, that we are able to find best approaches in developing and maintaining the most effective policies. Such policies indeed become our very valuable resource. It is essential to try to understand poverty from the perspective e of those who feel it and go through it every day instead of from the solitude of the government influence. If we continue to blame the victim, we have a strong chance to deprive ourselves from being able to use them as an important resource.

In her book “Rose’s Story” Wanda Bibb analyzes and brings out the limitations of the welfare programs. Bibb starts off by not only recognizing the policy but from the very beginning becoming the very victim of the system. The experience of the policy issues is categorized along the lines of the society expectation on how Rose should act, her self-reliance, representation of the NASW Code of Ethics as well as the residual attitudes on the social welfare in general.

In her book Rose says, “… I made every dollar count” mentioning the fact that since she actually owned a wringer washer, she did extra ironing and washing (Bibb 39). This sentence directly shows the self-reliance of Rose in its simple way. Even though Rose had battles with the things she could not overcome, she still was focused on the bigger picture. She stayed firm and was able to realize her own personal values to others as well as her ability to act upon them. By making use of every dollar made, the main hero showed her good judgment regarding the circumstances she was in. However, what stays a question is whether self-reliance was capitalized by the social welfare.

Moving further into the reading we face another aspect of the book which includes general expectations of social values. Rose is commenting that her stepmother always insisted on her getting married. This statement raises a social value where all the women have to get married sooner or later. Since the words were said by Rose reader does not necessarily know if Rose’s stepmother indeed wanted the girl to get married. However, the writer expressed a value that she considered to be the indication of the path that Rose should follow.

Many problems that Rose faced came as a result of this particular thinking. People who were surrounding Rose in those times, were the ones who relied on the stereotypical and traditional experiences when offering an impractical advice. On the other hand, social welfare often makes use of same traditions. Therefore, we should pay more careful attention to the real need of individuals instead of blindly following the established pattern of thinking.

When analyzing the social welfare concepts mentioned in the book, it is interesting to return to the passage where Rose is talking that her stepsister always wanted to make a random check at her house in order to see how things are and how clean are the children. This moment in the book points out the example of the residual blaming a victim approach that is common in social welfare. Residual in this case means a concept of convenience.

It is very often easier to blame somebody for something than to take a moment and try to understand the logic and deeds of other people. Welfare system is one of the largest government agencies. In the time of need, this institution is the best choice for assistance to the family or individual.

The desire of Rose’s stepsister to inspect her house lies in such convenience. When one person is not sure of how to offer help, the idea of the concept stretches long way towards being a design, a frame or a method of reference by which power can be performed over those that are considered pitiful and undeserving. Residual thinking in its essence as shown in the book is a comforting idea that turns over the responsibility to the victim. If we compare it to the social welfare, such conceptual logic also leads to problems for poor people.

One of the most important aspects that Wanda Bibb brings out in her book is the NASW Code of Ethics and issues related to it. Rose became a victim those rights were badly violated. When she was having her contractions, the doctors advised her that she was not ready yet and that she should return home no matter the pains. This is a direct representation of the violation of the self-determination right of a person.

Rose suffered and it happened due to the lack of information about the alternatives she had regarding her pregnancy. She was limited on the information, on available resources that are out there for people to use. This case brings out the violation of NASW Code of Ethics because it took place and did not lead to human growth or human fulfillment since “the Code offers a set of values, principles, and standards to guide decision making and conduct when ethical issues arise.” (NASW)

What strikes about “Rose’s Story” as a book is its strong emotional appeal that works as a magnet. Some might complain that system cannot be insightful or emotional, whereas, people can. Not only the recipients of welfare but patients with diseases or disabilities or public school students have to remind people in so-called “helping” professions that these persons are not ignorant or not smart. It is easy for those who help to learn to respect those that they provide assistance to. Victims often are individuals themselves. Humanity of the modern days is a victim based society. It is most of the time someone else’s fault.

“Rose’s Story” is indeed a personal story of Wanda Bibb that she put on a paper in order to express her personal problems and difficulties that she was facing. Commenting to Local 12 New author said that “I’d like it if people could get out and get professional help, rather than suicide or divorce or any other thing going on in their lives.” (Local 12 News) Writing her story helped the woman overcome her hardships as well as become a unique guide for those who are still in need of help from others and from themselves.

The writer took the courage to devote her book to the social injustices that occur within already established institutions. Rose highlighted that no matter how sophisticated the system seems to be, when it comes to practice it is essential to consider the human factor. System indeed is developed for people, therefore, it should promptly and respectfully reply to all the individual needs. “Social care services should be built upon a genuine partnership of equals, with each making its own distinctive contribution to what should be a single, local care network.” (Guardian) Rose suffered from various aspects of the system and she made it her work to put her experiences on paper in order for others to see themselves through her eyes.

But by using an emotional approach Wanda Bibb is revolving many ironies that happened to Rose in her circumstances. She indeed was an educated individual who lived in the world of various preconceptions as well as the labeling processes. Being in the state of affairs in which was found herself and was not given any credit for being an intelligent woman, Rose understood that the knowledge is a useless without the genuine and kind insight or concern into the lives of other people.

References

Bibb, W. “R.”(April 2003). Rose’s Story. Waveland Pr Inc., 39

Local 12 News WKRC Cincinnati. (25 April 2007). Local Woman Writes Book

about Struggle with Mental Illness.http://www.local12.com/content/ medical_edge/story/Local-Woman-Writes-Book-about-Struggle-with/q3h5P2akOk6wQJvimquNKA.cspx

National Association of Social Workers (NASW). http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

Steele, L. (12 April 2001). Are Social Work Values Under Threat? Guardian  Newspaper http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2001/apr/12/socialcare