Critical Social Work in a Social and Political Context

This study analyzes the definition perspective, predicaments of critical social work and relates the analysis with the elaboration made in the books-“Engaging with social work: A critical introduction” by Morley, C., Ablett, P., & Macfarlane, S. and “Doing Anti-oppressive Social Work: social justice social work” by Baines, D. It also attempts to explain the themes discussed in these two books with reference to a current social issue-#me2 gender equity.

Running Head: CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
Name of the Student
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Author Note

1CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
Critical social work indicates to a collaborative approach of action, which aims to
bring social justice with the help of the practices and policies that favors social development.
The purpose of the study is to analyze the definition perspective, predicaments of critical
social work and relate the analysis with the elaboration made in the books-“Engaging with
social work: A critical introduction” by Morley, C., Ablett, P., & Macfarlane, S. and “Doing
Anti-oppressive Social Work: social justice social work” by Baines, D . Finally, this study
attempts to explain the themes discussed in these two books with reference to a current social
issue-#me2 gender equity.
Critical social work is actually a progressive view of the social work. Critical social
work can be defined in the social context. Here the social context refers to the factors related
to social issues-class, race, and gender. In this case, the purpose of the social work is to make
fundamental contributions to the personal as well as social issues. This approach of social
work is self-reflexive. It questions the inequality, injustice and discrimination related to race
or class or gender.
On the other hand, critical social work can also be defined in the political context. In
this case, critical social work implies to a collaborative approach to raise voice against the
authoritarian practices and discriminatory policies, which oppress the people of a community
or a country. The unhealthy political environment may be considered one of the greatest
obstacle of a critical social work.
The book “Engaging with social work: A critical introduction” by Morley, C., Ablett,
P., & Macfarlane, S. throws light on the potentialities of critical social work. More
specifically, it elaborates what social work is, the critical perspective of the social work,
uncertainty regarding critical social work (Morley, et al., 2014).
.

2CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
The first chapter of this book focuses on the longstanding history of critical social
work. Next section of this chapter attempts to give a definition of critical social work.
According to this definition, critical social work may be defined is a progressive approach to
social work, which challenges all the obstacles, injustice and divisions existed in the society.
Here the word ‘division’ refers to income inequality, racism, which basically, drags a society
backward. After this definition this chapter also talks people who are benefitted due to this
kind of division and elaborate how the critical approach to social work is able to defy the
power of such people. This chapter also states the importance of rejecting a blind idealistic
approach to critical social work and advices to adopt an approach that measures the
challenges in the way of critical social created by contemporary contexts. The following
section of the first chapter, attempts to draw a contrast between critical social work and
uncritical social work. In this context, it has given a definition of uncritical social work,
which highlights the conservative approach of the social work. This approach accepts the
inequality that exits in the society and advice people to bow their head down in front of the
social injustice, instead of fighting them back (Morley, et al., 2014).
The second chapter introduces various new terms related to critical social work. This
chapter attempts to define those terms and provide critical reflections. One of such essential
terms related to critical social work is-‘socio-economic disadvantage’. According to this
definition, socio-economic disadvantage implies the existence of the high level of income
inequality, unemployment, disguised unemployment in the society. Another term is –
‘marginalization’, which refers to the procedure of decentring a race class or section of
people to the margins of the society. The next section of the chapter focuses on the
importance of associating scientific methods with social work. It states that scientific
methods aid in the management of critical social works. Scientific methods also assist to
determine a cost-effective approach of social work. This, in turn, ensures the adoption of less

3CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
disruptive methods to abolish ‘socio-economic disadvantages and the problem of
marginalization (Morley, et al., 2014).
The book “Doing Anti-oppressive Social Work: social justice social work” Baines, D.
talks about the anti-oppressive practices of social work with reference to the lessons learnt
from disability rights activism. (Baines, 2017).
This book talks about ‘Anti-Oppression Theoretical Framework’ to fight with the
‘disability Issues’.Here the people with disabilities are not looked as the recipients of
sympathy and care, rather they are looked as activists. This section argues that the anti-
oppression practice should be influenced by the spirit of the people with disabilities to
combat all their problems and serve the society. In this context, the author talks about the
five-year strategic plan prepared by her when she used to assist an organisation fighting for
establishing disability rights. The processes suggested in the strategic plan consisted of a
visioning exercise, in which, the activists with disabilities faced problems in practicing social
work. Specifically, those activists mentioned the issues troubling them in their attempt of
revealing the oppression which in turn creating obstacles in the path of gaining social justice.
According to them, the anti-oppression framework is not a theoretical vision. They consider
the framework effective to redefining their problems and suggesting radical solutions. Apart
from sharing the views of those activists with disabilities, this section has also elaborated the
importance of such a framework of strategic plan for the person with disabilities. Unlike most
of the conservative approaches of the social work, this framework was concerned about the
issues of treatment and curing of the person with disabilities (Baines, 2017).
The next section of this chapter recommends a medical model for the people with
disabilities. This chapter talks about ‘Medicalizing discourse’. The medical model suggested
that medical diagnosis is the most vital factor for the remedies of the issues faced by the

4CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
people who possess some kind of disabilities. In this context, this chapter link this discourse
with the processes of experimentation, institutionalization, forced sterilization as well as the
concept of charity to aid the people with disabilities (Baines, 2017).
The following section of the chapter suggests a social model. This social model
focuses on some of the factor, which determine how the people with disabilities are perceived
by the society. These are- practices, discourses, norms, attitude, systematic barriers like
policies of the government. According to this model thesea re the essential elements that
helps in the formation of an environment of empathy, love and care for people who have
some kinds of deformities (Baines, 2017).
The last section of the chapter talks about some of the approaches need to construct an
appropriate social environment as well as framework for bettermemnt of the people with
disabilities. It suggests that there should be participatory approach between the ‘practitioners’
and the ‘clients’. Here practitioners are the people who take initiatives for enhancing the
efficiency of the social welfare programs for disable people. The ‘clients’ are basically the
people having some kinds of disabilities, who are also the victims of social injustice. Often
clients do not show any enthusiasm to participate, talk about their pain, and fight back the
problem. This happens due to the submissive attitude of the clients towards the social
discrimination. Again, the ignorance of the practitioners of social work or bureaucrats adds to
the disability of the government to design social welfare programs. This section also suggests
blended heterodox approach to social work, which will help in designing and executing social
welfare programs for the people with disabilities (Baines, 2017).
#Metoo Movement’s Ignorance to Disabilities
The #metoo movement for gender equity one of the current social issues which
ignored the troubles faced by women with disability. This current social issues may be used

5CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
to explore the theme of disability discussed in the book-“Doing Anti-oppressive Social Work:
social justice social work” Baines, D. It is true that, the #metoo movement deals with the
stigmatic offence of sexual violence to women, but it is biased to the women who are able to
talk about the sexual violence they have faced. A major section of the disable women face
sexual harassment every single days of their lives but they are unable to express their agony.
They are unable to raise their voice against the social injustice. Sometimes, it is their
deformity for which they cannot fight against this crime. Sometimes, it is the lack of support
on the part of the family as well as the society, which lowers their confidence to fight back.
There are almost no representative from the community of disable women, in the
#metoo movement. There are people who have become known faces of the movement for
Tarana Burke, haan African-American activist. She was the one who started to use the phrase "Me Too"
in the year 2006 but like other pioneers of the movement she had forgotten the problems
faced by women with disabilities.
The purpose of the movement is to make people conscious about this dreadful social
issues, evoke the spirit of fighting in the women all over the world. Unfortunately, the
movement do not even consider disable women on the list of victims. Women from all over
the world who were the victims of this stigmatic offence shared their stories over the internet
and made other victims realise that they were not alone. There are several stories shared by
women who have some kinds of disability which received no justice except lots of emogies
expressing grieves (Time, 2019).
Unfortunately, the government of the countries like America, Australia, Japan,
Canada, France, China, India have not implemented any effective laws for the security of the
women with disabilities. They are only concerned about strengthening the laws to abolish
sexual violence from workplace and establish equal rights for women. The ignorance also

6CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
reflected through the Hollywood’s attitude to deal with the problems of the women with
disabilities. It has founded an organization named ‘Time’s Up’ in order to abolish the the
signs of ‘sexual harassment’ from the industry. This organisation has taken fruitful steps like
raising a large amount of fund, hired volunteer lawyers in order to support women
undergoing legal procedure in #metoo cases. There are several cases of sexual harassment of
women with disabilities for which the organization is not concerned (Time, 2019).
Finally, it can be concluded that, the theories and approaches of critical social work
like social movement theory, transformation theory, participatory approach, social-justice
oriented approach, progressive approach, blended heterodox approach should be followed to
make provision for the social justice for the people with disabilities.

7CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
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8CRITICAL SOCIAL WORK IN A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT
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