February 16 2024 SWP 331

docx

School

Toronto Metropolitan University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

132

Subject

Sociology

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by ChiefCaterpillar3709

Anti Oppressive Practice in Social Work Theories of Practice Feb 16, 2024 AOP: HISTORY, PRINCIPLES AND QUESTIONS This week: Anti Oppressive Approaches ● Healy ● Baines readings Anti Oppressive practice is what you take with you ● Establish value in a place or space workplace According to Healy, AOP is the latest wave of the modern, critical social work tradition “Critical social workers seek to understand and address the impact of social structures on the problems facing service users” (p. 183) “Wanting people to come together, name oppression(s) and do something about it collectively…” “Critical social work includes structural, radical,anti-oppressive, anti-racist and feminist forms of social work (Healy, p. 185)” ● Anti oppressive practice originated in the United Kingdom in 1980’s/early 1990’s with Dalrymple and Burke, Dominelli because of their social climate. ● Influenced by all forms of critical social work & sociology, social movements, some aspects of psychology (self- reflection) ○ Also influenced by class and social structures ● According to Baines (2007), reaction to ‘mainstreaming’ of social work, rise of neo- liberalism in the 1980’s ● Part of a move beyond class (Healy, p. 188) and arguing that the personal experience of oppression just as important as structural analysis What is Anti Oppressive Practice? ● Some may call it a theory or a set of practices, ● According to Healey

Anti Oppressive Practice in Social Work Theories of Practice Feb 16, 2024 ● “A form of practice which addresses social divisions and structural inequalities ...it embodies a person-centred philosophy, an egalitarian value system and a focus on process and outcome...” (p. 179, 192) ● Benjamin (in Baines, 2007): AOP is transformative practice ...it resists, in multiple ways, standard practices that support inequities and oppressions’ (Benjamin in Baines, 2007, p. 196). Core Assumptions/Beliefs ● Must recognize multiple forms of oppression (racism, ageism, sexism), that they intersect and that all are harmful. ● Oppression tied to unequal power relations and divisions in society. ● Must critically reflect making sure we do not add to a person’s suffering through our practice, teaching and research. ● Social work is always political and must include a broad range of interventions. There is no time-limit on the work, no enforced optimism or focus on fixing .... ○ Socia Intersectionality Is how social structures come together to intersect the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups. Doing Anti oppressive practice 1. Critical self-reflection How do you identify/what have you lived through How might that limit or enhance what you do/see/change? 2. Critical assessment of users’ experiences of oppression Think big picture and ask what has been done to the service user(s)? What oppression(s) are service users contending with? What language is being used to frame the ‘problem’ and why? How can you reframe the problem so it is seen as shared and solutions are about individual empowerment and collective struggles

Anti Oppressive Practice in Social Work Theories of Practice Feb 16, 2024 More principles 3. Empower Service users 4. Work in partnership 5. Minimal Intervention Doing AOP Imagine yourself as an Anti-Oppressive worker at Sistering working with under- housed, homeless and marginalized women. A racialized woman comes in, sounding angry and holding plastic bags. She also has a very challenging odour around her. She approaches you during the free lunch program. • Using critical self-reflection, discuss what would challenge you here and how your history would limit or enhance what you do/see/change. And if you could help her? • Using critical assessment, discuss what oppression(s) the user may be contending with. What language is being used to frame the ‘problem’ and why? How do you stick to the minimal intervention principle when there is a high risk of death or harm? (Healy 201, 2014) Critiques Are the “us and them” categories implied by anti-oppressive practice too polarizing? What if the user’s consciousness is raised and it doesn’t match yours? What if AOP gets watered down? (to liberal pluralism) What if race does not receive sufficient attention? Hierarchy of oppression – groups vying for recognition of their experience of oppression Homogeneity of experience – fails to recognize uniqueness Collective solutions can sometimes hide or ignore different needs

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Anti Oppressive Practice in Social Work Theories of Practice Feb 16, 2024 May not recognize the process of readiness for (service user) to engage in resistance The privileging of resistance What about different points of view? Desire to eradicate all oppression ; recognize intersecting oppression Vs. Desire to have unique experiences of oppression acknowledged Need to ‘hold ground’ – sometimes can put us in conflict; and, might cause us to miss opportunities Anti oppressive practice core themes ● Macro/micro social relations ● Everyday experiences shaped by oppression and resistance ● SW a highly contested/political practice last paragraph ● SW an active political process ● Individual work and social transformation ● Build allies ● Theory and practice based on struggles/need of folks oppressed EPISTEMOLOGY (P. 13) AOP is a heterodox term Not confirming with AOP is a term that doesn’t conform with accepted standards Epistemology: theory, the study of knowledge AOP & others stress the existence of structures Structures: social relations made by people (therefore can be changed by people) MANAGING AND SUPERVISING SOCIAL WORK From p 19 “...many social justice-oriented social workers tend to avoid management positions, perhaps assuming that management power is

Anti Oppressive Practice in Social Work Theories of Practice Feb 16, 2024 exclusively an oppressive form of power”. DIFFERENCES FROM MAINSTREAM PRACTICES Both use respectful & constructive approaches Mainstream: theories that rest on the belief in the neutrality of social and economic systems; yes, can ease some difficulty/suffering, but depoliticize social problems FROM P. 25 As social justice-oriented social workers we can humanize ourselves, our work practices and our communities, liberate and politicize our workplaces and transform and dignify our existence through the creative, collective and ongoing pursuit of peace, equity, and social justice.

Related Documents

IHP 501 Module Four 4-2 Project Prep.docx

Pregnancy, Birth & Infancy Essay- SWK516.docx

Inquiry Arc Project .docx

week 3 module notes - children.docx

assignment 3.pdf

Add t0 final report and cite for logic discussion.docx

WK3CAssgn+Miller_j.docx

WK3DASSGN_Miller_J.docx

SOC112 Week 7 Education .docx

ICW #9.Arnett on Social Class(1) (1).docx

Style Exam-Kruljac.docx

Module 4 Quiz 2 .docx

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134641287

Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Publisher:Pearson College Div

Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780393639407

Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...

Sociology

ISBN:9781305503076

Author:Earl R. Babbie

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...

Sociology

ISBN:9780134477596

Author:Saferstein, Richard

Publisher:PEARSON

Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134205571

Author:James M. Henslin

Publisher:PEARSON

Society: The Basics (14th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134206325

Author:John J. Macionis

Publisher:PEARSON

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Pearson College Div
Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780393639407
Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...
Sociology
ISBN:9781305503076
Author:Earl R. Babbie
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...
Sociology
ISBN:9780134477596
Author:Saferstein, Richard
Publisher:PEARSON
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134205571
Author:James M. Henslin
Publisher:PEARSON
Society: The Basics (14th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134206325
Author:John J. Macionis
Publisher:PEARSON