Social Change and Social Work in Mongolia

Exhaustion and possibility. The wor(l)dlyness of social work in (G)local environment worlds during a pandemic

Qualitative Social Work ◽

10.1177/1473325020973314 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1-2) ◽

pp. 54-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mona B Livholts

Keyword(s):

Social Justice ◽

Social Change ◽

Social Work ◽

Turning Point ◽

Social Problems ◽

Life Writing ◽

Work Practice ◽

Local Environment ◽

Social Work Practice ◽

Writing Genres

Exhaustion is not about being tired. It is an intense feeling of restlessness, of insomnia, and awakening when I ask myself: have I exhausted all that is possible? Such a state of restlessness and wakefulness represents a turning point for having enough, and opens for new possibilities to act for social change. This reflexive essay departs from the notion that the language of exhaustion offers a wor(l)dly possibility for social work(ers) to engage in critical analytical reflexivity about our locations of power from the outset of our (g)local environment worlds. The aim is to trace the transformative possibilities of social change in social work practice through the literature of exhaustion (eg. Frichot, 2019 ; Spooner, 2011 ). The methodology is based on uses of narrative life writing genres such as poetry, written and photographic diary entrances between the 4th of April and 4th of June. The essay shows how tracing exhaustion during the pandemic, visualises a multiplicity of forms of oppression and privilege, an increasing attention and relationship to things, and border movements and languages. I suggest that social work replace the often-used terminology of social problems with exhaustive lists to address structural forms of racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, which has been further visualized through death, illness, violence, and poverty during the pandemic. I argue that the language of exhaustion is useful for reflexivity and action in social work practice through the way it contributes to intensified awareness, attention, engagement, listening, and agency to create social justice.

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Social Work and Social Change

British Journal of Sociology ◽

10.2307/588878 ◽

1964 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 373

Author(s):

Rosalind Chambers ◽

Eileen Younghusband

Keyword(s):

Social Change ◽

Social Work

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Social Policies, Social Services, and the Law

Social Casework ◽

10.1177/104438947805900902 ◽

1978 ◽

Vol 59 (9) ◽

pp. 523-529 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rosemary Creed Lukton

Keyword(s):

Social Change ◽

Social Work ◽

Social Services ◽

Social Policies ◽

Client Advocacy ◽

The Law

Adapting social work techniques to the preparation of a legal suit can serve as a mechanism for client advocacy and contribute to social change

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The Deviant Imagination: Psychiatry, Social Work and Social Change

British Journal of Sociology ◽

10.2307/590045 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 283

Author(s):

Brian Hipkin ◽

Geoffrey Pearson

Keyword(s):

Social Change ◽

Social Work

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Still doing what we do: Defining social work in the 21st century

Journal of Social Work ◽

10.1177/1468017310386697 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 191-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Barbara Staniforth ◽

Christa Fouché ◽

Michael O'Brien

Keyword(s):

Social Change ◽

Social Work ◽

New Zealand ◽

Social Workers ◽

Professional Organizations ◽

Social Work Educators ◽

Aotearoa New Zealand ◽

Indigenous Perspectives ◽

Definition Of ◽

Work Education

• Summary: Members of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) were asked to provide their definition of social work. Over 300 responses were analysed thematically in order to determine if practitioner views corresponded to recent shifts in social work education and theory which emphasized the importance of social change, strengths based perspectives and the importance of local and indigenous contexts. • Findings: The findings demonstrate that while there was some recognition of social change and strengths-based perspectives in the definitions of social work provided, that those working in the field remain focused on ‘helping individuals, families and groups’ engage in change. Respondents did not, for the most part, acknowledge local or indigenous perspectives in their definitions. • Applications: Results from this study may be useful for social work professional organizations, and social work educators, students and future researchers who are interested in the definition of social work and its scopes of practice.

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