Comments on: More Than Just a Body With a Broken Brain: Why I'm Choosing Social Work

By: Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner

Miriam, Professional Fun-Ruiner — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:31:26 +0000

In reply to rilian. Yup. There's no reason to be offended when you don't care that much about how much you make. :)

By: rilian

rilian — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 01:47:24 +0000

–I’ve been told that I’m “too smart” for a masters in social work, that I will be “offended” when I see how little they pay me.–

I’ve been told this in reference to wanting to get an associate’s degree in computer programming. But for me the main issue is that I don’t care about making the most money, or having the biggest house.

By: [storytime] How I Quit the Senior Thesis | Brute Reason

[storytime] How I Quit the Senior Thesis | Brute Reason — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:31:16 +0000

[…] be a whole lot of things. If I really wanted to, I could do this thesis. (I could also get a PhD, which I recently decided not to–a decision that parallels this one in many ways.) In the grand scheme of things, a year is […]

By: Bex @ Bulligerent.com

Bex @ Bulligerent.com — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:10:08 +0000

In reply to Miriam. I'm working on a PhD in Criminal Justice (going through exams right now, finished with coursework) and a Masters in Public Health (finishing that this semester).

By: Miriam

Miriam — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 23:52:22 +0000

In reply to Bex @ Bulligerent.com. Thank you! What field are you in?

By: Bex @ Bulligerent.com

Bex @ Bulligerent.com — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:54:09 +0000

Just found this post by following a link from a comment over at GeekFeminism. Thank you so much for your bravery and your passion! I am in a similar boat but a different field and it does my heart so much good to read things like this and know that others feel the same way. I am very curious about issues in my field and, like you, a voracious reader, but I want to take all the things I read and turn them into CHANGE. There’s so much injustice in the system and not enough people consuming and synthesizing the research to provide better programming and solutions for problems that have plagued the justice system for decades. I feel like I can contribute just as much (or more) to this world by playing THAT role as I can sitting in a university office crunching national survey numbers.

By: Irina

Irina — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 03:59:34 +0000

Wow, Mash, congratulations!!! I had the same doubts and concerns as you did when I signed up for an MSW. I have to say that although it’s quite annoying at times (getting paid less and being looked on in a certain way by others), I don’t regret it and I’m sure you won’t, either. I have some experience working these past couple of years and could always answer your questions–I’m here for ya 🙂 What programs are you applying for?

By: a lady

a lady — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 23:37:53 +0000

In reply to Miriam.

Elitism AND classism, whether the latter is internalized or externalized.

I made a similar choice a few years ago–it’s very fortunate to know what one wants, and how to get it (more or less). It can be tough to figure out when it goes against so much programming, so it’s nice to see this sort of positive example.

By: Sarah Harper

Sarah Harper — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 04:33:19 +0000

“The truth is that, in my hour of need, it wasn’t a man with a white lab coat and a doctorate who saved me. It was–as corny as this is going to sound–the social justice movement. That was what finally taught me that my feelings are justified, that my thoughts have merit, that my words matter.”

The mental health rights movement “saved” me, so I know exactly how you feel. Except that in my case being “saved” also meant undoing the damage caused by psychiatric labeling and the mindset that says medication and therapy are the only answer.

By: Miriam

Miriam — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:49:19 +0000

In reply to WitheringTulip. Thank you! :)