SWRK 1001H Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Pauperism, Good Moral Character, European Colonialism
28 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Swrk1001H: Introduction to Social Welfare
Tuesday, January 31 st
, 2017: Lecture Four
Colonialism 101
Began in the late 15th century, when Europe used violence, exploitation, power and control to take over
and rule 80% of the globe.
European colonialism established colonies in over 80% of the globe, including African, Asia, and the
Americas. Canada was included in European colonialism and/or “expansion”.
“othering” was used as a major justification for colonial expansion – classification of certain groups
(indigenous populations, women) as inferior, savage, backwards, uncivilized, heathen, subhuman,
abnormal; therefore, needing to be “saved”, “helped”, and ruled by imperial authorities/colonists who
considered themselves to be superior, rational, human beings.
Control and exploitation of land and of bodies was justifiable because “others” were deemed to lack
quantities and characteristics necessary to survive and thrive in Western, capitalist civilizations. They
simply could not survive without help.
Colonialism was (and still is) the site of false distinctions/categories which create colonizers and
colonized, superior and inferior, civilized and uncivilized, along the lines of racialization and race.
Orientalism
- The study of the east from individuals in the west
-
East West
oWomen are oppressed
oEveryone is hate-filled
oUncivilised
oEveryone is a terrorist
oBackwards (old-school) thinking
oThey have a flawed education system,
and are therefore uneducated
oOil (telemarketing)
oFascist/dictatorship
oIslam/Muslim
oRadical
oModern
oFreedom of religion, etc.
oMulticulturalism tolerant
oHighly educated
oDemocracy/capitalism
oLand of opportunity
oEquality/equal opportunity
oFree healthcare
oAdmirable
oPolite
oPeaceful
- West cannot be the West without the East – need each other
- Everything that the West is known for cannot be known without the opposites (qualities of the East)
The “Charity Visitor”
The role of “charity visitors” was to promote industry, thrift, and virtue amongst the poor
Charity visitors were elite women and some men whose task was to classify applicants as either
deserving or undeserving, based on strict religious principles. (Christians)
Poverty is sinful, and to take up work to relieve poverty meant you embodied good Christian principles
and high moral character.
Deserving – good moral character who were “out of luck”, clean, tidy
Undeserving – lazy or morally degenerate
Poor laws 1601 and reform in 1832 – poorhouses for elderly and sick (deserving), workhouses for able-
bodied who worked for relief. Public assistance was made to be cruel and demeaning, in order to
motivate “lazy people” to get back to work (undeserving).
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Tuesday, january 31 st , 2017: lecture four. Began in the late 15th century, when europe used violence, exploitation, power and control to take over and rule 80% of the globe. European colonialism established colonies in over 80% of the globe, including african, asia, and the. Canada was included in european colonialism and/or expansion . Control and exploitation of land and of bodies was justifiable because others were deemed to lack quantities and characteristics necessary to survive and thrive in western, capitalist civilizations. Colonialism was (and still is) the site of false distinctions/categories which create colonizers and colonized, superior and inferior, civilized and uncivilized, along the lines of racialization and race. The study of the east from individuals in the west. East: women are oppressed, everyone is hate-filled, uncivilised, everyone is a terrorist, backwards (old-school) thinking, they have a flawed education system, and are therefore uneducated, oil (telemarketing, fascist/dictatorship, islam/muslim, radical.
