Becoming a liberation health social worker

Abstract

This chapter looks at upper-middle and privileged-class families from a liberation health perspective. Such individuals and families are, by their very definition, those who benefit the most from the current social, political and economic status quo in America. Upper-middle and privileged-class individuals value and are at the mercy of a culture of hyper-consumerism, professionalism, competition, and individualism. Money and economic privilege do not guarantee happiness. In fact, upper-middle and privileged-class individuals are no more likely to be happy than their working-class or middle-class counterparts. Materialism alters the human relationships and our capacity to connect as human beings. Upper-middle and privileged-class individuals are susceptible to feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse, among others. The chapter explains the personal, cultural and institutional forces that impact the lives and mental health challenges faced by upper-middle and privileged-class families and individuals.