Becoming A Holistic Social Worker: An Autoethnography

<div>This research project is an autoethnography about my journey in becoming a holistic social worker. The theoretical framework includes critical race feminism, Asian feminism, and yin yang theory. The literature review finds social workers are integrating alternative healing practices in their professional work. The research methods are the process and product of writing the autoethnography. The research question is: what persons, situations, and experiences were influential in my becoming a holistic social worker? The findings indicate the influencing factors: family environment, learning kung fu and Chinese medicine, social justice activities at church, healing professionals, working in mental health field, training in counselling and mental health, and holistic social workers. The discussions indicate white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, and cultural appropriation had negative impacts on my life and presented opportunities for resistance.</div>

Becoming A Holistic Social Worker: An Autoethnography

<div>This research project is an autoethnography about my journey in becoming a holistic social worker. The theoretical framework includes critical race feminism, Asian feminism, and yin yang theory. The literature review finds social workers are integrating alternative healing practices in their professional work. The research methods are the process and product of writing the autoethnography. The research question is: what persons, situations, and experiences were influential in my becoming a holistic social worker? The findings indicate the influencing factors: family environment, learning kung fu and Chinese medicine, social justice activities at church, healing professionals, working in mental health field, training in counselling and mental health, and holistic social workers. The discussions indicate white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, and cultural appropriation had negative impacts on my life and presented opportunities for resistance.</div>

I Can't Sleep At Night, Praying He Returns Home Alive: The Experiences Of Black Mothers Raising Black Sons In The Greater Toronto Area

<div>This is a qualitative narrative study of how self-identified Black mothers raising Black sons in the Greater Toronto area respond to the everyday likelihood that their sons may be killed by the police. The goal of this research is to shed light, create space, and give voice to Black mothers to share their personal experiences of police brutality in the Greater Toronto Area, and some ideas for how to better support these women. Additionally, it is meant to create an understanding that behind every murdered, incarcerated or racially profiled Black male, there is a Black mother suffering in silence. This research is grounded in Critical Race Feminism and Anti-Black Racism.</div><div><br></div><div>KEY WORDS: Constant fear, Parental responsibility, Lack of resources in Black communities/criminality, and Powerlessness/systemic change.</div>

I Can't Sleep At Night, Praying He Returns Home Alive: The Experiences Of Black Mothers Raising Black Sons In The Greater Toronto Area

<div>This is a qualitative narrative study of how self-identified Black mothers raising Black sons in the Greater Toronto area respond to the everyday likelihood that their sons may be killed by the police. The goal of this research is to shed light, create space, and give voice to Black mothers to share their personal experiences of police brutality in the Greater Toronto Area, and some ideas for how to better support these women. Additionally, it is meant to create an understanding that behind every murdered, incarcerated or racially profiled Black male, there is a Black mother suffering in silence. This research is grounded in Critical Race Feminism and Anti-Black Racism.</div><div><br></div><div>KEY WORDS: Constant fear, Parental responsibility, Lack of resources in Black communities/criminality, and Powerlessness/systemic change.</div>

Working with sexual violence in the latinx community: testimonios and stories of racialized women workers

This narrative qualitative research study explores the experiences of Latinx women working with sexual violence in the Latinx community. It explores the stories and showcases the testimonios of two women who have worked in the field of sexual violence within the Latinx community in Toronto, Ontario for many years. Both participants shared similar stories, as well as different experiences with their own individual lenses. The theoretical framework draws from a critical race feminism theory as well as Latinx feminism, creating a mestizaje of theory. A narrative approach was used to collect data, along with an arts-based portion to honour traditional methods of knowledge sharing and expression. Data analysis included a thematic analysis to further look into the themes that emerged from the findings. Implications for future social work research and practice under an anti-oppressive lens are discussed in the conclusion.

Working with sexual violence in the latinx community: testimonios and stories of racialized women workers

This narrative qualitative research study explores the experiences of Latinx women working with sexual violence in the Latinx community. It explores the stories and showcases the testimonios of two women who have worked in the field of sexual violence within the Latinx community in Toronto, Ontario for many years. Both participants shared similar stories, as well as different experiences with their own individual lenses. The theoretical framework draws from a critical race feminism theory as well as Latinx feminism, creating a mestizaje of theory. A narrative approach was used to collect data, along with an arts-based portion to honour traditional methods of knowledge sharing and expression. Data analysis included a thematic analysis to further look into the themes that emerged from the findings. Implications for future social work research and practice under an anti-oppressive lens are discussed in the conclusion.

Skin colour dissatisfaction in South Asian-Canadian women

The intent of this qualitative research study is to highlight the experiences of second-generation South Asian-Canadians with skin colour dissatisfaction and shadeism. Using a narrative approach of inquiry interviews were conducted with 2 South Asian-Canadian women to better understand the effects of colonial beauty standards and whiteness on their satisfaction with the colour of their skin. Findings were that participants felt very negatively toward their skin and often felt inferior to white women. They disclose that skin dissatisfaction has a discernible impact on their everyday lives and decisions. Data analysis draws critical race feminism and post-colonial theory. Keywords: South Asian, Canadian, women, skin-colour, shadeism, colourism, beauty, colonization, self-esteem, whiteness

Skin colour dissatisfaction in South Asian-Canadian women

The intent of this qualitative research study is to highlight the experiences of second-generation South Asian-Canadians with skin colour dissatisfaction and shadeism. Using a narrative approach of inquiry interviews were conducted with 2 South Asian-Canadian women to better understand the effects of colonial beauty standards and whiteness on their satisfaction with the colour of their skin. Findings were that participants felt very negatively toward their skin and often felt inferior to white women. They disclose that skin dissatisfaction has a discernible impact on their everyday lives and decisions. Data analysis draws critical race feminism and post-colonial theory. Keywords: South Asian, Canadian, women, skin-colour, shadeism, colourism, beauty, colonization, self-esteem, whiteness

Chapter 3: Waking up Woke: Exploring Black Female Youth Critical Consciousness and Sociopolitical Development

Background/Context Critical consciousness (CC) is an awareness and reflection of inequities, political efficacy, and agency in response to injustice. Similarly, sociopolitical development (SPD) is the process of developing a critical understanding, skill set, and emotional depth to enact individual agency against oppressive forces. Of the latter, SPD is vital in empowering youth from traditionally marginalized communities to challenge inequities. However, SPD has largely remained absent from U.S. classrooms. Purpose/Objective/ Research Question/Focus of Study Considering the absence of SPD in U.S. classrooms, this case study explores the SPD of Black female preservice teachers and their Black female high school mentees in a two-year tutoring and mentoring school-based program. Our study captures the woke pedagogical experiences that advanced participants’ co-constructed CC. As such, we seek to describe student exemplars of what it means to be awakened and stay woke through an analysis of interviews, journal reflections, and video data. To this end, the research question that guided this study was: What are the perspectives of Black female youth as they co-construct CC toward SPD in a two-year tutoring and mentoring school-based program? Research Design Through the lenses of critical race feminism and woke pedagogies, this study used a single case study design. Case study is appropriate for this study because it highlights the particularity and complexities of one unit of analysis. Findings Our findings capture the perspectives of Black female youth as they cultivate CC toward sociopolitical development in one educational initiative geared toward partnering undergraduate and high school students. An examination of data through the lens of critical race feminism and woke pedagogies spotlighted the perspectives of our participants as they co-constructed CC through woke pedagogical experiences. Mentors deepened their CC on race, and mentees gained heightened awareness of gendered and racialized school procedures and policies. Black girls in this study woke up (CC) and stayed woke through their activism (SPD). Conclusions In sharing the perspectives of Black female youth as they cultivated SPD, it is our intention that the critical approach and experiences that we have described capture the methods and strategies that one educational initiative implemented to empower and promote agency among Black female students. As an example of woke pedagogy, this educational initiative offered Black girls at the intersection of race, gender, and class an opportunity to critically question their world and become aware of racial and social injustices impacting their everyday lives and community.