S.Rengasamy. Introduction to Professional Social Work Status and prestige Professions enjoy a high social status, regard and esteem conferred upon them by society. This high esteem arises primarily from the higher social function of their work, which is regarded as vital to society as a whole and thus of having a special and valuable nature. All professions involve technical, specialized and highly skilled work often referred to as "professional expertise." Training for this work involves obtaining degrees and professional qualifications without which entry to the profession is barred (occupational closure). Training also requires regular updating of skills through continuing education.
Power All professions have power. This power is used to control its own members, and also its area of expertise and interests. A profession tends to dominate, police and protect its area of expertise and the conduct of its members, and exercises a dominating influence over its entire field which means that professions can act monopolist, rebuffing competition from ancillary trades and occupations, as well as subordinating and controlling lesser but related trades. A profession is characterised by the power and high prestige it has in society as a whole. It is the power, prestige and value that society confers upon a profession that more clearly defines it. This is why Judges, Lawyers, Clerics, and Medical personnel enjoy this high social status and are regarded as true Attributes of a profession professionals. 1. There should be tested body of knowledge, consisting
How professions evolve The main milestones which mark an occupation being identified as a profession are: 1. It became a full-time occupation; 2. Establishment of training school; 3. Establishment of university department; 4. Establishment of local association; 5. Establishment of national association; 6. Introducing codes of professional ethics; 7. Establishment State licensing laws.
of techniques and methods communicable through an educational discipline which should not only be academic but practical in nature 2. Standards for training, jobs and services should be set up. 3. There should be a sense of belonging, group consciousness and and responsibilities, professional ethics for every professional. 4. Profession should provide the professional with continued occupation. 5. it should be responsive to public interest and work towards social ends. 6. the goals should be the welfare of the people, improved human relations, built on understanding and tolerance Paul Chowdhry p.23
The ranking of established professions in the United States based on the above milestones shows Medicine first, followed by Law, Dentistry, Civil Engineering, Logistics, Architecture and Accounting. With the rise of technology and occupational specialization in the 19th century, other bodies began to claim professional status: Pharmacy, Logistics, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Teaching, Librarianship, Optometry and Social Work, all of which could claim to be professions by 1900 using these milestones. Although professions enjoy high status and public prestige, all professionals do not earn the same high salaries. There are hidden inequalities even within professions. Gender inequality & Racial inequality There is a long-standing and well-documented male domination of all professions, even though this has weakened over the last forty years or so. For example, well-qualified women rarely get the same pay as men.
Characteristics of a Profession The list of characteristics that follows is extensive, but does not claim to include every characteristic that has ever been attributed to professions, nor do all of these features apply to every profession:
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