Symbolising: cultural representations in theory and in practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 157-168
Author(s):  
Linda Bell
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Cultural Representation ◽  
Rite Of Passage ◽  
Cultural Representations ◽  
Liminal Spaces ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Ontological Turn ◽  
Personal Reflections

This chapter explores some ideas relating to symbols and what can be termed ‘cultural representation’ in social work. Exploring symbolism and cultural representation is an important aspect of anthropological enquiry. The chapter offers some personal reflections about symbolism, cultural representation, and social work. It includes recent developments such as materialism and the use of objects, as well as the ontological turn in anthropology. It also draws together some examples, using issues drawn from previous chapters, relating to a few key symbols that (in keeping with the uncertainties of social work) are characterised by ambivalence, in particular: ‘family’, professionalism, and work placements, being relevant to ambiguous, liminal spaces between education and the workplace as part of a rite of passage into professional social work.

Introduction

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. G. Runciman
Keyword(s):  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Cultural Representation ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Cultural Representations ◽  
Main Interest ◽  
The Third ◽  
The People

There have been claims that the Marxist approaches to the history are no longer tenable. This idea that Marx has lost such relevance to historiography is due to the failure of his prophesies, including the three particular assumptions: the anti-universalism, the neglect of cultural representation and discourses, and the success of capitalism. Anti-universalism claims that no history can ever be written, except from the historian's own point of view and the interests and values which come with it. In the case of Marx, whose main interest in history is the discovery of the path of man to communism, any claim to universal validity made him compromised from the outset by the local provenance of his and Engel's experience of capitalism and the intensity of their disapproval. The second assumption is Marx's neglect of cultural representations and discourses. By neglecting the sufferings and aspirations of the people who were the victims of capitalist exploitation, Marx missed the opportunity to give his moral denunciation of capitalism added perlocutionary force. The third assumption is the success of capitalism in beating the Marxists. On this view, Marx failed to allow the possibility that when the time came for the capitalist and socialist modes of production to compete directly with one another, it would be the capitalist modes of production that would be stronger between the two. Nevertheless, despite the failure of some of the Marxist prophesies and theories, it is nonetheless significant in the writing of history, which needs explanation. Marxism still has much to offer in the structural analysis of the development of history.

scholarly journals "You cannot take it with you": Reflections on intersectionality and social work

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-48
Author(s):  
Eileen Joy
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Recent Developments

This article presents a brief commentary on intersectionality and social work with a particular focus on Aotearoa, New Zealand. It begins with an examination of the genealogy of intersectionality through an acknowledgement that the concept has a longer lineage than the name. This foray into genealogy underscores the point that meticulous citational practice is a key component of good intersectional practice. Definitional challenges are briefly addressed, and the idea that theory and praxis are intimately connected is explored. Following this intersectionality is discussed in the context of ‘mana wāhine’ and recent developments in intersectionality in Aotearoa New Zealand. Finally, there is a discussion of why intersectionality is needed in social work with examples drawn from reflective practice and child protection in Aotearoa New Zealand.

scholarly journals A Comparative Analysis of Social Work in Vietnam and Canada

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-88
Author(s):  
Douglas Durst ◽  
Thi Huong Lanh ◽  
Myrna Pitzel
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Field Education ◽  
Socialist Republic ◽  
War Of Independence ◽  
Theory To Practice ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Social Work Field Education ◽  
Work Education

Social work education is rapidly developing in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and it is facing new challenges as it blends the historical, political and cultural influences. This article reviews and compares the historical and recent developments of social work in Canada and Vietnam. Canadian social work developed in Euro-western culture and its values, whereas, Vietnam suffered under French colonialism, a 30 year war of independence and then economic depression. For many years, social work remained nebulous but in recent years, the country has seen a rebirth of social work. Field education is the link from theory to practice and is often where differences between the two countries become evident. The article concludes with a discussion on the professionalization of social work and its future contribution to the emerging “new” Vietnam.

scholarly journals Courage to Cobble Something New: Creative Representations of Bisexuality and Aging

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 611-611
Author(s):  
Sarah Jen ◽  
Rebecca Jones
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Visual Imagery ◽  
Turning Points ◽  
Cultural Representations ◽  
Personal Reflections

Abstract There are few cultural representations or scripts available for LGBTQ aging. Among bisexual and otherwise non-monosexual (bi+) women, stereotypes of hypersexuality exclude older adults while the contrasting experience of invisibility obscures the existence of bi+ aging. In this discourse analysis, we examined three issues of the Bi Women Quarterly (BWQ) newsletter published between 2014-2019 which were devoted to the intersection of aging and bisexuality. Data include 42 narratives, personal reflections, interviews, poems, letters, advice columns, and photos which were analyzed to identify linguistic tools, visual imagery, and broader discourses used to construct and convey the meaning and experience of bisexual aging. Themes include: 1) lacking a “blueprint” for bisexual lives, 2) significant “turning points,” 3) intergenerational (dis)connections across history, and 4) life-long patterns of discovery and disclosure. More visible and diverse narratives for bisexual aging might better enable bi+ individuals to envision and effectively plan for their own aging futures.

scholarly journals Where has vulnerability gone?

2020 ◽  
pp. 147332502097331
Author(s):  
Catherine R Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Judith Butler ◽  
Cultural Representation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Cultural Spaces ◽  
Cultural Responses

During Covid-19, health care workers have been vulnerable to death, and at the same time, in response to their vulnerability, heroic. Heroism is one of the most ubiquitous narratives during this pandemic. In this article, I am interested in the juncture between vulnerability and heroism, the discursive privileging of a hero and the implications of this for social workers in health and social care. I use the writings of Judith Butler to ask, where has vulnerability gone? I argue that it is not that vulnerability is erased or suppressed, or comes second in the public imaginary, but rather, vulnerability is reconstituted as heroic and becomes unrecognisable. Vulnerability is an under-examined concept in social work and an analysis of its cultural representation during the outbreak of Covid-19, can contribute to our knowledge about how vulnerability operates in health and social care, as well as how vulnerability conditions the cultural spaces we operate within. Can new insights, provoked by the cultural responses to this pandemic, lead to a reorientation for social work politics and the politics of vulnerability?

Social pedagogical research in Germany

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-89
Author(s):  
Pascal Bastian ◽  
Barbara Lochner
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Clear Picture ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
German Research ◽  
Study Programs ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Pedagogical Research

The number of empirical studies on German social work makes it difficult to gain a clear picture of them all. The increasing academisation of education and the expansion of study programs also reveal an increase in social work research in Germany. This article traces this development and discusses open questions. In addition, it demonstrates the importance of qualitative research, in particular for the development of professional casework. The paper proposes a systematization of German research in the field of social work and discusses this systematization based on the example of a study. Finally, the paper presents some further aspects and recent developments.

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