Teaching Gender in Social Work - MailChimp
Teaching Gender in Social Work - MailChimp
Teaching Gender in Social Work - MailChimp
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The most effective application of these techniques will occur when they<br />
are creatively comb<strong>in</strong>ed -- because they comprise an <strong>in</strong>tegrally <strong>in</strong>terconnected<br />
system that is far more useful as a holistic system, than <strong>in</strong> any l<strong>in</strong>ear summation<br />
of its parts. 55<br />
There are important dist<strong>in</strong>ctions between these approaches: “Photo-<br />
Therapy is used by therapists <strong>in</strong> their work help<strong>in</strong>g others, while Therapeutic<br />
Photography is done by <strong>in</strong>dividuals by and for themselves <strong>in</strong> non-therapy<br />
sett<strong>in</strong>gs for the purpose of their own personal growth and <strong>in</strong>sight, creative<br />
artistic statement, as an agent of personal/political/social change or communitystrengthen<strong>in</strong>g<br />
-- or even more broadly when us<strong>in</strong>g the camera for the purpose of<br />
qualitative research or as part of organized community-based research projects<br />
(such as “PhotoVoice”). These practices are not opposites -- they are different<br />
ways of us<strong>in</strong>g emotional <strong>in</strong>formation that has been unconsciously embedded<br />
<strong>in</strong> people’s personal snapshots.” 56<br />
Conclusion<br />
The read<strong>in</strong>g of visual data as cultural texts enhances students’ understand<strong>in</strong>g of such<br />
issues as social order, gender roles and <strong>in</strong>equalities. Pictorial constructs of normality<br />
and social problems are characteristic of certa<strong>in</strong> historical periods; visual evidence<br />
may illum<strong>in</strong>ate social issues of the past as well as contemporary society. The <strong>in</strong>terpretation<br />
of visual texts may serve to highlight peculiarities <strong>in</strong> social relations and<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual experience and offers a new understand<strong>in</strong>g of the visual with<strong>in</strong> a culture<br />
and a society. We have outl<strong>in</strong>ed the historical and <strong>in</strong>terpretive frameworks of such<br />
methods as photography and video. We have also provided maps that can be used<br />
<strong>in</strong> social work tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and research and <strong>in</strong> the practice of <strong>in</strong>tervention and lobby<strong>in</strong>g<br />
for social reform. In develop<strong>in</strong>g the visual component of social work tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g,<br />
we cross the fields of cultural studies, anthropology, communication and media<br />
studies, film, art, design, psychology, sociology and education. The application of<br />
visual methods <strong>in</strong> social work teach<strong>in</strong>g comb<strong>in</strong>es practical and technical elements<br />
as well as reflexive and theoretically-driven aspects. Participatory visual methodology<br />
serves to amplify the voices of silenced groups, while offer<strong>in</strong>g opportunities for<br />
community education and social action.<br />
55<br />
Source: Weiser, 1999 available at http://www.phototherapy-centre.com<br />
56<br />
ibid.<br />
83