My Privilege in Social Work

Ever since I started on the road to becoming a social worker, I have been told how lucky I am being a male, as well as how I'll progress farther up the ladder faster than the female's in my cohort. I went along in my studies knowing this, and accepting it, but never really experiencing it. I never felt favored or that I was the center of attention (other than usually being the only male in the classroom), and thought that maybe, just maybe, it didn't apply to me. I hoped for that because I'm quite uncomfortable with it. I want to be judged on my abilities and experience, not my skin color or gender.

However, I've come to the point where I have now very much experienced my privilege in social work. When I entered my practicum, I was told that there were many opportunities for group work, and then the path to doing this group work was explained to me. We were to observe a bit, co-facilitate one portion, and then after doing that, we could facilitate another, apparently more advanced portion. As we went along, we found out that even co-facilitation opportunities were probably going to be rare, and we were all mostly upset.

Then, I was approached by a program supervisor. Not only did they want me involved in groups, they wanted me to start by co-facilitating the "advanced" portion. I meekly accepted and tried to keep it quiet. I know I wasn't picked because I was the best potential facilitator, or because I have rockin' experience, or the most to offer. It was plain and simply because of my gender.

I'm really still working on this, but it still leaves me uncomfortable. What could I do? I wanted the opportunity, was qualified for it, and need the learning. But the way it was done didn't feel great. I need to work with this and figure out what I'm feeling about it. I don't want to be one that uses my privilege to run rampant, but I don't think it's beneficial to push away opportunities, either.

Sigh. I just don't know...