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How do you feel about Social Workers in The Sims?

The Sims, a popular video game from Electronic Arts, features social workers who rescue neglected children and help with adoptions. SocialWorkersSpeak.org plans to meet with the game creators to talk about the portrayal but wanted to hear from you first.

Q: Do you play The Sims? How do you feel about the portrayal of social workers?

Screenshot of a social worker from The Sims.

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3 Comments

  1. No I don’t play Sims, but none the less I do have an opinion about the SW roles portrayed by the media. As much as it pleases me that the role of SW is starting to be considered by various media thinkers, it is so frustrating to see the limited view that they have of what we actually do. Again with the foster care/adoption role???? Sadly, as long as the writers/creators of these difference public venues continue to portray us as merely case workers who work in this sole arena of child welfare, the public will never receive the accurate information nor the correct education about the width and breadth of our invaluable contribution to society. This web site is doing wonders for the image of SW but it’s an uphill battle to alter the age old stereotypical images that keep getting reinforced by uninformed and narrow minded creators/writers. I do not understand why the producers of these venues do NOT do their research……………they research so many other professions (police, fire fighter, nurse, doctor, etc.) and bring on consultants to advise them accurately, yet don’t bother to do that when it comes to including a SW character. We all have our work cut out for us, but thank you Greg for being the pioneer who leads us onward and forward.

    With gratitude,
    Kathy Gurland, LCSW
    NYC

  2. I agree that while I’m thrilled that social workers are being included in media portrayals, it is a little disheartening to see, yet another, portrayal of social workers only as child welfare workers which does not reflect what I, nor many of my social worker friends and colleagues, do. It also feels to me that by not consulting actual social workers on what would be appropriate roles and situations to portray, that these writers/producers dismiss what I do as being so obvious or unworthy of actually taking the time and energy to get it right.

  3. I don’t understand why this continues to be our image and the first thing that comes to mind when people think of social work. I don’t know any social workers who work as case workers for child protection services! While working in child protection often motivates people to get a social work degree, I have yet to meet anyone who becomes a social worker to be a case worker. People need to learn the difference between a case worker and a social worker. I don’t see this happening until the media stops portraying social workers in this way :(.

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