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.

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

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!