Title: Mapping feminist practice: Implications for contemporary social work practice
Abstract: Though social work was slow to embrace feminism, social workers have consistently highlighted the unequal power relations that disadvantage women and undermine their competence, experience, and values. They have sought to address structural inequities that produce inequality and oppression - consistent with radical and socialist feminism - they have articulated the importance of seeing women as individuals - rather than as wives and mothers - and they have challenged gender role stereotypes. However, for the most part, feminist social work has been relegated to the status of a 'special interest group'. Similarly, the strengths perspective has been marginalised in dominant neoliberal and biomedical discourses. Yet social workers have steadfastly adopted it, seeing it as empowering, liberating, and transforming. While acknowledging the oppressive realities for many women, a strengths perspective heralds a move away from a deficits-based focus on oppression and powerlessness. It recognises that, despite structural disadvantages, women have strengths and capacities, and display resilience even in the face of hardship. Drawing on the findings from a study on mentoring with women from disadvantaged communities, this paper suggests that the strengths perspective has much to offer feminist practice in challenging poverty, unemployment, and vulnerability. Areas of overlap between the two discourses are highlighted, such as the importance of egalitarian client-worker relationships, appreciation of difference, elimination of false dichotomies, and belief that the personal is political, and the benefits and challenges of applying this approach to practice are discussed. The paper concludes with comments on the implications for practice.
Publication Year: 2010
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot