# Diversity, diverse and disadvantages in social services - Savonia AMK

> We participated in the Erasmus+ BIP exchange in Germany 7-11.4. 2025.

## Overview of the Erasmus+ BIP Exchange
We participated in the Erasmus+ BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) exchange in Germany from April 7–11, 2025. This short exchange program involved students from at least three different countries and higher education institutions, supported by distance learning meetings before and after the exchange.

The exchange was conducted in cooperation with:
* Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
* University of Latvia
* University of Hradec Králové
* Mykolas Romeris University

Erasmus+ funding covered travel, accommodation, lunches in Frankfurt, a weekly local transport ticket, and an entrance ticket to a local sight.

## Exploring Diversity in Social Work
The theme of the week was diversity in social work. Through multinational small groups, we explored social workers' roles across municipal, private, and third-sector organizations. These visits provided a concrete comparison between German and Finnish practices.

Diversity challenges one's own beliefs and prejudices. It encourages professionals to look beyond "masks" or "barriers" to see the individual as a whole. We learned that it is crucial not to pigeonhole groups—such as substance abusers or homeless individuals—but to understand the person behind the label.

## Disadvantages and Oppression
During a lecture by Chaitali Das at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, we discussed diversity alongside the concept of disadvantages, based on Iris Marion Young’s classification. According to Young, oppression takes five forms:
1. Exploitation
2. Marginalization
3. Powerlessness
4. Cultural imperialism
5. Violence

We discussed how society produces norms that define non-normative people as "diverse," which can inadvertently reinforce stereotypes and commodify diversity. The focus should shift from normalizing diverse people to changing the systemic structures that create inequality and discrimination.

## Field Observations and Case Studies
Our visits to local agencies highlighted the importance of identifying disadvantages without stigmatizing the target group:
* **Released Prisoners:** We visited a third-sector agency supporting those released from prison. These individuals face significant stigma, making it difficult to secure housing and employment.
* **Minors at Reception Centers:** We visited a center for undocumented immigrant minors. Their status as "falling outside the norm" creates a clear disadvantage.
* **Systemic Marginalization:** We observed instances of racism and bias, where the quality of service or access to housing depended on the client's nationality or ethnic background, such as the disparity in treatment between African asylum seekers and European war refugees.

## Comparison: Germany vs. Finland
While the forms of social work are similar, we noted several differences:
* **Visibility of Deprivation:** Homelessness, prostitution, and drug use were more visible in Frankfurt than in Finland.
* **Digitalization:** A striking difference was the absence of electronic patient and client databases in Germany; all transactions were paper-based, unlike in Finland, the Czech Republic, and Latvia.
* **Key Takeaways:** We identified a need to focus more on the individual rather than the stigma they carry. We also found inspiration in the German approach to creating a sense of community in residential areas and the active role of third-sector actors.

## Conclusion
Despite the language barrier and different life situations, the group benefited from international insight, new ideas, and the confirmation that Finnish expertise is highly competitive in international arenas.

**Writers:**
* Veera Lindholm, Cassandra Löfberg, Anne Salin, Aino-Mari Uppa and Markku Virta, Students of Master’s Degree Program, Savonia UAS
* Pirjo Turunen, Principal Lecturer, Savonia UAS

## Sources
* Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, https://www.frankfurt-university.de/en/
* Das, Chaitali 2025. Challenges in Diversity Work. Lecture. Diversity in Social Work. Frankfurt University of Applied Science.
* Mykolas Romeris University, https://www.mruni.eu/en/
* Rebolledo, Mauricio 2023. Iris Marion Young’s Five Faces of Oppression. https://criticallegalthinking.com/2023/04/24/iris-marion-youngs-five-faces-of-oppression/
* Savonia. Erasmus blended short-term intensive course BIP. https://www.savonia.fi/en/study-with-us/other-studies/exchange/bip/
* TEPA-termipankki. https://termipankki.fi/tepa/fi/haku/diversiteetti
* University of Hradec Králové, https://www.uhk.cz/en/university-of-hradec-kralove
* University of Latvia, https://www.lu.lv/en/