06.03.2015 Views

Teaching Gender in Social Work - MailChimp

Teaching Gender in Social Work - MailChimp

Teaching Gender in Social Work - MailChimp

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

3. How is anti-discrim<strong>in</strong>ation and anti-oppressive practice possible<br />

through this method?<br />

4. How does this approach problematise men and mascul<strong>in</strong>ity?<br />

5. What emphasis is placed on biological difference vis-à-vis<br />

arguments about social construction?<br />

6. To what extent are gender relations socially constructed?<br />

7. Is there space <strong>in</strong> present day social work for this approach?<br />

What are the limitations?<br />

Themes for debate which emerge from this <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />

• A recognition of the value of break<strong>in</strong>g down gender <strong>in</strong>to l<strong>in</strong>es of<br />

class <strong>in</strong> particular<br />

• Along with the other two ma<strong>in</strong> perspectives, it has tended to be<br />

most relevant for problematis<strong>in</strong>g a Western democratic context<br />

and less so for understand<strong>in</strong>g issues for women from ethnic<br />

m<strong>in</strong>orities <strong>in</strong> the United K<strong>in</strong>gdom or for understand<strong>in</strong>g fem<strong>in</strong>ism<br />

with<strong>in</strong> different governance and social structures.<br />

• It puts gender above other forms of discrim<strong>in</strong>ation which need<br />

equal attention: for example, discrim<strong>in</strong>ation aga<strong>in</strong>st women<br />

and men on the grounds of race, disability, religion, and so on.<br />

• It does not provide sufficient guidance concern<strong>in</strong>g how to engage<br />

men via this approach <strong>in</strong> social work.<br />

Mov<strong>in</strong>g on to the <strong>in</strong>troduction of broader <strong>in</strong>ternational perspectives opens<br />

up space for understand<strong>in</strong>g gender from a cultural perspective <strong>in</strong> particular.<br />

This is done via discussions of Black Fem<strong>in</strong>ism along the same l<strong>in</strong>es as above,<br />

as well as emphasis<strong>in</strong>g an understand<strong>in</strong>g of ‘the family’ from an <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />

perspective. For example, students learn to reflect critically on read<strong>in</strong>gs such<br />

as the special edition of the journal International Sociology and <strong>Social</strong> Policy on<br />

‘K<strong>in</strong>ship and Family <strong>in</strong> International Context’ as an illustration of how family<br />

life and gender relations are constructed with<strong>in</strong> their own social and political<br />

context. 13 F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs from recent histories of social work <strong>in</strong> Eastern Europe<br />

13<br />

International Sociology and <strong>Social</strong> Policy: Special Edition “K<strong>in</strong>ship and Family <strong>in</strong> International Context” 5, no. 3 (2005).<br />

23

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!