Social Work Is a Form of Professional Imperialism between the Global North and Global South

Students in the field of social work have the opportunity to gain international experience. However, their encounters with the global South can re-enforce global inequalities. While the intent is to support human rights, there are spatial differences between students and their local partners. Students from the global North come into their work with privilege, which affects how they see the spaces they enter and exit. This is an example of professional imperialism. For minoritized student in social work, this experience is more complicated. Even though they come into these spaces holding privilege from the global North, they are also marginalized because they do not meet the global image of Canada as being “white”.