Religion and Privilege

For citizens in some countries, religious oppression is common and long standing. While freedom of religion is guaranteed in the U.S., religious intolerance still exists. According to the Equal Opportunity Employment commission, the number of lawsuits filed for religious discrimination doubled between 2000-2010 (Pledger, 2011).  Social workers must be alert for the complex ways that religious privilege functions.  By creating an awareness of the privilege given to some while marginalizing others, social workers can understand how this bias impacts their clients.

An explanation of the connections between privilege and religion. Describe a situation in which members of a religion experience privilege. Describe a situation in which members of a religion experience religious oppression.