Rethinking Feminist Theories for Social Work Practice

✍ Scribed by Christine Cocker (editor), Trish Hafford-Letchfield (editor)

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 381
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Feminist social work has clear goals to expose and critically analyse gendered power as a dynamic, historic, and structural concept embedded in our world, and to mobilise and take social action to challenge that power. This is integral to a commitment to the core values of the social work profession, which include a commitment to human rights, social justice and professional integrity. This edited collection brings a range of academic and practitioner scholarship to centre feminist theories, values and knowledge as they apply to social work practice, theory and education. It engages with feminist thinking to re-emphasise and refocus the centrality of gender and its intersections with other axes of identities such as social class, race, disability, sexuality and age, for understanding and analysing social work practice. This collection is a timely reminder of what feminist inquiry has to offer social work to successfully address contemporary challenges and is applicable to practitioners, scholars, educators, students and other key care professionals and policy makers.

✦ Table of Contents

Foreword
References
Acknowledgements
Permissions
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Rethinking Feminist Theories for Social Work Practice
Introduction
Chapter Synopses
Conclusion
References
Part I: Feminist Theories for New Challenges in Social Work
Reference
Chapter 2: Feminisms: Controversy, Contestation and Challenge
Introduction
‘Second-Wave’ Feminism(s)
Lesbian Feminism(s) and Standpoint
Black Feminism(s)
Postmodern Feminism(s)
‘Third-Wave’, ‘Fourth-Wave’ and ‘Choice’ Feminisms
Islamic Feminism(s)
Feminism(s) and Social Work
Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 3: Feminist and Empowerment Theory and Practice: A Powerful Alliance
Introduction
Human Rights Framework
Applying an Intersectional Rights Framework
Feminist and Empowerment Theories: The Power of Two Theories
Feminist Theory
Concept of Mutuality in Feminist Practice
History and Development of Feminist Theory
Central Concepts of Empowerment Theory and Research (Fig. 3.2)
Empowerment Theory
Life Course History Power Analysis: An Integrative Theoretical Analysis
The Pathways of Cumulative Health and Justice Disparities
The Trauma of Incarceration: Prison as an Abusive System
Assessment and Intervention Using a Life Course Systems Power Analysis Model
The Life Course (The Length of the Model)
Systems (The Width of the Model)
Power (The Height of the Model)
Embedding Restorative Justice and Risk, Need, and Responsivity (RNR)
Application of the Life Course History Analysis Theory to Practice with Mary
Human Rights, Feminist, and Empowerment Assessment and Intervention Plan
Intervention Plan
Conclusion
References
Chapter 4: Feminist Research and Practice: Reorienting a Politic for Social Work
Introduction
The Braid
Neoliberalism and Social Work
Professionalization and Social Work
Criminalization and Social Work
Impacts of the Braid on Social Work Research
Case Examples from a Praxis of Resistance
Centering Social Change
The Politics of Evidence
Break with Carceral Logics
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: A Pedagogy of Our Own: Feminist Social Work in the Academy
Introduction
Feminist Social Work in the Academy
Critical Edge Women (CrEW)
Neoliberal Contexts for Social Work Education
Homogeneity
Marketisation
Gender Neutrality
Individualism
Self-surveillance
Feminism, Feminist Social Work and Feminist Social Work Pedagogy
Why We Need a Pedagogy of Our Own
Feminist Social Work Pedagogy
Foregrounding Diverse, Lived Experiences of Women as Fundamental to Sources of Knowledge
Recognising and Informing Relations of Power
Working in Collaboration
Using the Neoliberal University as a Site for Social Change and Social Justice
The Personal Is Political
Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: Collaborative Autoethnography for Feminist Research
Introduction
Background and Rationale
Autoethnography in Research
Using Art in Research
Methodology
Situating the Participant-Researchers
Establishing a Relational Framework for the Data Collection Process
Beginning, Re-entering, and Transformative Conversations
Art, Craft, and Embodiment
Insights
Discussion
Conclusions
Key Ideas for Social Work Practice
References
Part II: Feminisms and Intersectionalities
References
Chapter 7: Afrocentric Feminism and Ubuntu-Led Social Work Practice in an African Context
Introduction
Afrocentric Feminism
Our Place in the Resistance
Colonialism, Indigenous Education and African Women
Afrocentric Feminism and Social Work
Afrocentric Feminism in Context: Reflections from African Women in Uganda
Obuntu-Led Feminism
Older African Women as Custodians of Afrocentric Feminist Values and Knowledges
Implications of Afrocentric Feminism for Social Work Practice and Education
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Tears of Shame: Sri Lankan Mothers Negotiating Experiences of Caregiving and Disability
Introduction
Delimitations
Mothering as Pivotal
Children: Learning Hierarchy and Deference
Parvula: Kinship Relations
Defining Lajja-Bhaya
Mothering Disabled Children
Absentee Fathers
Supports
Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: Voices of Syrian Refugee Women in Jordan Living with Exacerbated Gender-Based Violence During COVID-19: Conceptualizing a Feminist Perspective for Social Work
Introduction
Context
Methods
Experiences of Gender-Based Violence: Voices of Syrian Refugee Women
Feminist Perspectives and Gender-Based Violence: Implications for Social Work
Conclusion
References
Chapter 10: The Transformative Potential of Transfeminist Social Work Practice
Introduction
Language and Terminology
Situating Ourselves
What Is Transfeminism? A Brief History
Where Does Transfeminism “Fit” in Feminist Theories?
Transfeminism and Social Work
Social Work and “Nonconforming” Bodies: A Difficult Legacy
Social Work and Trans Oppression
The Potential of Transfeminism and Social Work
Transfeminism and Structural Social Work
Embedding Transfeminism in Social Work Education
Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: Exploring the Intersection of Queer Disability as Life Story: A Feminist Narrative Approach to Social Work Research and Practice
Introduction
Context
The Intersections of Disability, Gender and Sexual Identity in the Literature
Doing Feminist Narrative in Social Work Research and Practice
Research Design in the Current Study
Josie’s Story
Thematic Interpretation of Josie’s Story
Accounting for Experiences of Discrimination in Josie’s Story
Resisting Through Sexual Experimentation
Resisting Through Gender Experimentation
Discussion
Josie’s Story: Lessons for Feminist Narrative-Informed Research and Practice
References
Chapter 12: Invisible Women: Critical Perspectives on Social Work and Gender in Later Life
Introduction
Key Issues for Gender in Later Life
Critical Gerontology and Feminism
Social Work with People in Later Life
Socio-Economic Factors in Later Life
Global Inequalities
Health and Well-being
Giving and Receiving Care
Gender-Based Violence in Later Life
Conclusion
References
Part III: Gender in Social Work Practice
References
Chapter 13: Using Sex Worker Feminisms in Practice to Promote a Peer-Based Methodology; Exploring Personal and Professional Identities in a Research Alliance Centring Sex Worker Lived Experience
Introduction
Conceptualising Everyday Sex Work
Roxana
Priscilla
Sarah
Conclusions: Towards a New Feminist Alliance to Research
References
Chapter 14: Does Feminist Social Work Practice Need Time? Gender, Parenting and Changing Times for Social Work
Introduction
‘Feminism(s)’ in Current Social Work Contexts: How Relevant Are ‘Gender’ and ‘Gender Specificity’ to Practice Now?
Time to Care?
‘Mothers Apart’: A Partnership Action Project
Conclusions
References
Chapter 15: Lesbian Parenting: Rebellious or Conformist?
Introduction
Rebellious or Conformist?
Conformist or Rebellious?
Feminist Rejection of Binaries
Conclusion
References
Chapter 16: Child Sexual Exploitation, Victim Blaming or Rescuing: Negotiating a Feminist Perspective on the Way Forward
Introduction
The Feminist Victim/Agent Dichotomy
An Interpretivist Feminist Perspective
Child Sexual Exploitation
The Research
‘No choice but to stay involved’
‘It’s what I do, not who I am’
‘It’s not for me’
Conclusions
References
Chapter 17: Social Work Men as a Feminist Issue
Introduction
Men’s Position in Social Work as a Feminist Issue
Men Social Work Students: Engaging with the Boundaries of Feminism
Men in Social Work Education: A Study
Men Are Not ‘Natural’ Social Workers
Anxieties About Physical Contact
Feeling Social Work Did Not Want Them
Conclusions
References
Chapter 18: A Relational Approach to Work with Couples Where Men Have Been Violent Towards Women: Feminist Dilemmas and Contributions to Social Work Practice
Introduction
Feminisms
Systemic Social Work
Early Feminist Critiques of Family Therapy
Feminism and Neutrality
Feminist Family Therapy in the UK
Reflexivity and the Social Graces
Family Therapy and Couple Violence
Our Practice
Case Study
Conclusion
References
Chapter 19: Feminist Perspectives on Social Work Leadership
Introduction
Feminist Core Principles
Feminism: Definitions and Multiple Types
Ethics of Care and Feminist Leadership
Feminist Leadership: Transformational, Shared, Relational and Intersectional
Gender Equality/Mainstreaming and Barriers to Leadership in the Public Sector
‘The Personal is political’: Barriers and Enablers
Case Study: Chief Social Worker and Principal Social Worker Leadership Roles
Transformative Leadership
Transparency and Distributed/Shared Leadership
Addressing Structural Inequalities
Conclusion
References
Index