scholarly journals Critical Social Work – Considerations and Suggestions

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Herz ◽  
Thomas Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Critical Points ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Critical Approach ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Critical Social Work ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Landscape ◽  
Critical Social

Social work is often described as socially oriented, politically sensitive and as taking a critical approach to ‘social problems’. However, recently we have seen how this self-image has lost ground. In the present article, we have discussed how demands for evidence and scientific evaluations of social work have gradually pushed the discipline and practice in the direction of psychological measurements and methods. Here, we will identify a problematic development within the social and theoretical practice of social work, and make some suggestions regarding how to start discussing, analysing and dealing with this changing social landscape. We will identify some critical points and issues and present models of how to think about and develop a critical social work practice. KEYWORDS: Evidence, psychologization, social work practice, meta-theory, discursive-narrative

scholarly journals Anti-Oppression Through a Postmodern Lens

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catrina G. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Social Discourse ◽  
Dominant Discourse ◽  
Critical Social Work ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Critical Social

Anti-oppression discourse has emerged within critical social work in an effort to address issues of diversity, difference, and inclusion. Drawing upon Audre Lorde’s (1984) famous words “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house” this paper will argue that modernist aspects of anti-oppressive discourse may unwittingly deploy the masters’ or dominant conceptual tools. A critical reflexive lens identifies unintended, modernist conceptual practices of power which may reify dominant discourse. Specifically I focus on three modernist practices of power which may limit anti-oppression discourse: 1) the essentialism of the subject, 2) subjectivism or writing out the social, and 3) the reproduction of dominant social discourse.   Through exploring these three related domains, I argue for a blending of modernist and postmodernist assumptions which holds onto the strengths of both modernism and postmodernism while abandoning their limitations. This blended approach will facilitate a critically reflexive anti-oppressive practice. KEYWORDS: Anti-oppression, postmodernism, social work practice, reflexivity

scholarly journals Spiritual Identity and Transformation: Christian Narratives, Public Discourse, and Critical Social Work Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe Fardella
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Spiritual Identity ◽  
Transformative Change ◽  
Postmodern Theory ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
Critical Social Work ◽  
Critical Social

Currently, critically reflective social work practice is influenced by culturally relativizing themes from postmodern thought. This view cautions practitioners to be aware of the role that dominant cultural narratives play in subjugating the identities of their clients as well as their own lives and professional practice. As such, postmodern theory risks denying the emancipatory potential of Christian thought for inspiring subjective, inter-personal and social forms of transformative change. This paper will argue that the discourse ethics of Jurgen Habermas represent communicative ideals which allow for the non-coercive application of potentially transformative Christian beliefs to critical social work practice.

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