Social Roles In Social Work

The social statuses individuals play every day are complex, and may sometimes be at odds with each other. This was quite apparent when I sat down to interview my friend John. At first glance, most would see John as a typical aging hipster, which is partly correct. However, at forty-five years of age, the complexities of the social roles played by John are immense to say the least.
John is a very interesting individual. He is a hard worker who struggles to keep a full time laborer job, while possessing a master’s degree in engineering. He is a “trendy” looking man, dressed all in black with leather bondage bracelets, and biker boots adorned with chains. He has perfectly manicured hair and an outstandingly awesome beard. Contrast this with his

status of homeless man, struggling to find a safe place to sleep, and keep his electronic devices charged.
John is a perfect example of the dynamic human spirit, which refuses to submit. He struggles to overcome obstacles that were placed in his path by a younger, less knowledgeable version of himself. Nevertheless, he does not give up and will not give in. This is why I chose to interview him; I find him completely inspirational.
John explained how he struggles with the perceptions of society regarding his homeless status.

He resists the stereotypes that others place upon him. Stereotypes are the “assumptions of what people are like, whether true or false” (Henslin, 2013, p. 118). John does not use drugs, rarely drinks alcohol, and is highly motivated, definitely not the “stereotypical” homeless man. He hides his homeless status from most of his friends and many of his family members, as he does not want this to be his master status, or the “status that cuts across the other statuses that an individual” (Henslin, 2013, p. 107), which could change the way he is viewed by them. John intentionally restricts his social interactions with others, especially with other homeless individuals, to avoid drama. While constantly looking out for the few lucky individuals he allows in his world.
Of the roles John plays daily, he stated that “Being a homeless man is the main role I wish I could do less often; I would prefer not playing this role at all”, (John, personal communication, October 12, 2015). The sentiment is shared by many of the homeless individuals I have encountered, but not all. John said that this has been one of the biggest challenges he has ever faced, but he is certain this is just a temporary situation. And, from what I can tell from the short time I have known John, this statement is completely

true.
John is living hundreds of miles away from his family and the goal of returning home is a driving force in his life. When I asked him which role he wished he could perform more often, he got really quiet, as if in deep contemplation. Then when he looked up at me with a sad smile, he stated; “I wish I had the opportunity to “play” the role of father, but my children are adults now and they live on the other side of the country” (John, personal correspondence, October 12 2015). He got quiet again. After a moment of awkward silence, he stated how much he misses them, got up, and walked away.

John is a great example of the complexities of the multitude of social statuses played by us all every day. These roles may seem to contradict each other, or at least contradict our understanding of these roles; nonetheless, they are a reality for many. Some roles we may want to embrace, while others we work diligently to change. Even so, they are the roles that we have, and it is our duty to make them work for ourselves, just like John.