Feminist Social Theory and its Impact on Social Work Practice

This article discusses the impact of feminist social theory on social work practice, including the history of feminist movements, feminist theories, and principles of feminist social work. It also explores the different waves of feminism and their goals, as well as the impact of gender, power relations, and welfare services on women's oppression.

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Feminism is referred to several political, ideological domains and social approaches that
typically share a similar purpose. These establish gender, personal and social equalities thus
forming the basis for the enactment of various educational and professional opportunities for
women to be equal to their men counterparts (Adams, 2010). Over the years there have existed
most feminist movements that have continuously fought and campaigned for women rights in the
society, for example, having equal rights within marriage, maternity leaves, fair and equal work
pay and rights to democratic voting. These are the basis for societal changes as they address
continuous access to women social integration, protection from sexual harassment and physical
domestic violence by men.
Charles Fourier who was known to be socialist and philosopher of French origin introduced
Feminist in the year 1837. Based on the historical culture of feminism, distinct feminism theorist
has had different goals in creating feminism movements (Allen, 2013). This is as argued by
various western feminist historians. These theories are important since the theorist views aim to
ensure the lives of women are improved by looking into society and social services that usually
affect them. Therefore by the correct use of demographics, practices and case studies, women
will be able to gain knowledge from the feminist's perspectives
The history of the modern era feminist campaigns and movements was critically identified to
comprise of three specific waves (Armstrong, 2012). These particular wave divisions covered
several aspects of feminist matters or agendas.
First wave feminism literally consisted of women suffrage campaigns of both the 19th and 20th
century. It was often characterized by consideration of existing inequalities between male and
female adults. Some of the inequalities involved not allowing women to have legal voting rights,

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being barred from property ownership, unemployment, equal rights in marriage and political
positions of power. It mainly focused on legal constraints on women's rights (Arvin, Tuck&
Morrill, 2013). The second wave involved women's liberation movements that arose in the year
1960. This started evaluating minimal official limitations or obstacles to gender equality thus
focusing on key matters such as sexuality, reproductivity, responsibilities of women in their
matrimonial homes and existing patriarchal subcultural aspects. The third wave feminism
includes various issues on feminist politics and movements that started in the year 1980 till the
modern era (Broude, 2018). This particular wave started from critiques of the political aspects
that emerged from 2nd wave feminism. Feminist theorist felt that they had overemphasized on
white women experiences, those of heterosexual nature and women emerging from non-western
countries. The third wave was based on unique domains of womanhood and based on matters
such as racism. Those issues like homophobia were one of the critical parts of the feminist big
agendas across the historical domain.
The feminist social theory has typically been impacted by the main agendas of and movement
struggles of the above three waves. The first wave theorists like Susan Anthony were quite
influential as they indicated women's diminished legal rights (DeFrancisco, Palczewski &
McGeough, 2014). They argue that limiting women the legal rights led to their increased social
demotion, being excluded in the society and various modes of suffering in the community at
large.2nd wave theorists like Andrea Dworkin were also very influential since they mainly
focused on women's sexuality and the social negative impacts on dwelling in patriarchal
subcultural society. Also, 3rd wave theorist such as Judith Butler was quite promoted as they
significantly based their actual critic on ideological matters involving universal experiences of

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various women (Gould & Taylor, 2017). The theorist highly considered women sexual attention
and racial exclusion in the movements. In addition, it is evident that the theorist based their
critique on the male biases implicit present in the feminist social theory practice. This draws on
the various experiences of women.
It is clear that feminism is mainly focused on improving the rights and conditions of women in
society and the environment.
The existing feminist theories analyses the sole responsibility of women work in the social
practice of both gender and increased male dominance include liberal, radical, Marxist, socialist
feminism. Various first wave social feminist such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman argues that work
and class are the vital agendas for women liberation. This is due to the fact that most debates that
state in the women's movements in class politics was distinct even in the 20th century (Gowaty,
2012). One of the debates involved economic and special housework and how it relates to
women's oppression in society. Socialist Charlotte Perkins highly advocated that women
housework should be brought into the public domain. According to Ellen Keys, women should
be deemed as superior beings due to their mothering nature. Goldman and Gilman, however,
indicated that women are restrained and become socially unequal to their male counterparts by
having unpaid housework practices and their mothering activities.
In the second wave historical movement, feminism theorist argues that housework oppressed
women. Thus the liberal theory of feminism arises in this case. Liberal theory critiques the nature
of unpaid housework in matrimonial homes. The liberal theorist argues that this issue makes all
women lose value and become highly dependent on men since their hose work is not valued
(Grant 2013).Marxist feminist theorist stressed capitalism indicating that men have more power

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over women economic production work. Sexual division of labor in work makes results to
women being unequal to men thus makes variously available capitalist to highly exploit women
unpaid skills. Liberal, Marxism and radical theories of feminist have made women made women
become alienated in capitalism. This limits their activities to be mothers who carry out household
activities in matrimonial homes, restricts their personhood, citizenship and various democratic
human rights. Feminist theorist has participated in many campaign and workshop to struggle for
women's equality for example by striving to raise the women's wages and salaries in the
workplace. Various radical feminist argues that women work practices is part of their patriarchal
means of reproduction that men take advantage of thus exploiting their efforts.
Marxism as theory of feminism human nature emphasizes on the core work and human nature
understanding. The rapidly changing historical relations regarding work and individual relations
involving the increased production and d distribution of products (Greene, 2017). Marxism
theory as a philosophy of history and social work practice evaluates the existing social relations
of social work in various economic production. It analyses various women social inequalities and
exploitation for instance on matters revolving around racism and sexism dominance. Marx
argues that changing labor into goods sold alienates workers by removing the power of
production from them. It gives women workers the opportunity to unite against capitalist theories
and also to demand the ownership of property i.e. socialism and communism.
According to Engel, in the "Private Property and the origin of the family analyses women
situations in different feminism contexts. Literally, women are initially equal to their men
counterparts in the communal modes of production in the existing matrilineal family. However,
women do not have power in ownership of private properties. Men have high control over

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ownership of private assets since they have the prospective capability to produce a surplus. This
changes the family setting into a patriarchal one where women are deemed as slaves and serve as
the sole property of the man. The rise of capitalist increases the control of men. It also enables
women liberation from family patriarchy by making women work in wage labor and be work
independent for example housework. Engles argues that women liberation can only be fully and
entirely attained as a result of socialism growth and development of social work practices. In this
case, most Marxists have stressed that women full liberation need feminists to actively
participate in the social working class movements against capitalisms agendas. Various Marxist
–feminist thinkers, for instance, both sociologist and anthropologists have over the past carried
out research on the responsibility of sexual or gender division of work in either aiding or
lowering women special power.
Currently, Socialist feminists have developed a dual system theory. This particular theory
introduces a system of activities relations that typically advocates for human sexuality and
reproduction. Rubin argues that gender systems have supported increased male dominance and
heterosexuality. She hopes that heterosexuality will drastically reduce thus increasing the ability
of women to economically independent. This will make them fully liberated and equal to men.
According to the legal feminist theory, African American women bear a high level of punitive
and racism
Psychological theories. Sociologist Mitchel in the year 1972 argues that women's distinct
relations to productive work, patriarchy sexuality, and children socialization provides women
with low psychological power. It shows that women are deemed to have fewer identities,
personalities, and skills. The sexual divisions of young boy's dictates that they should learn to

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identify their masculine nature through separation from their mother thus making men be highly
dominant to women. Some argue that the work of mothering leads to exploitation. They argue
that women normally offer more sexual satisfaction to men than what they usually receive
(Greene, 2017).
Feminist indicates that in order for one to become empowered they should overcome that barrier
of professionalism and feel superior so as to continuously learn for increased work and social
change. Working class women are in a better political position to struggle for women's
liberation.
Ethical theories. Some feminist authors have largely evaluated various ethical impacts of the
sexual division of work. It requires that both women and, one in the society have equal rights to
main their status equivalent to wage labor.
Modernist and postmodernist feminist theories. Most argue that male increased dominations are
as a result of traditional values and hierarchies. This highly ignores the independent significance
of racism.
Feminist perspectives on the existing social work is a contemporary and contextual issue which
is in the wide spectrum domain (Hall, 2013). It dictates equal social work and women
reproductive rights in which they continuously struggle to achieve daily. Feminist social work
practices are based on the following principles; Gender evaluation, power relations, welfare
services evaluation such as women oppression and use of feminist language practice
Generally, feminist social work is based on the fact that there is a need to secure the women's
dignity from the dominating population of men in a society (Hesse-Biber, 2011). This is to

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suggest that the concept of feminism is to fight for those unequal practices that tend to lower the
dignity and identity of women in a society. In other words, feminist approach to social work is
all based on the assumption that challenges faced by women in society are not within the female
psyche but they are entirely found within our societal structure which is believed to be
patriarchal and oppressive to the female gender. The assumption is based on the belief that in
every patriarchal culture most of me tend to be more advantageous thus precluding women from
the whole concept of equity and equality (Howe, 2017).Therefore, the whole issue is to create a
society which provides equality and equity between the women and men in every society.
Most of the practitioners who always uses feminist slogans and principles in the whole program
of social work tend to create equality by connecting the political and personal experiences faced
by women in different fields. In most cases, the feminist social worker opts to link women's
personal experiences and workings to the issue of sex role cultures, an aspect of oppressive
social structure and the idea of discrimination practices found within the society (Livingston,
2013). In addition, feminist social workers once quoted a certain slogan saying ‘'the personal is a
political entity in society' 'This slogan meant that an individual's experience is always unique and
can, therefore, be linked with social practices, political practices, cultural and economic contexts
in which it was believed to originate from. Also, the other way in which those type of individual
with this assumption is the act of attempting to alter the societal structure by validating those
non-rational characteristics that are often described to be a part of the female cycle, including
aspects such as healing, spiritual foundation, and multidimensional thinking approach (McNay,
2013).

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Social work is a very effective way of developing and guiding critical consciousness and raising
the sense of self-efficacy. This is obtained when all women in society become involved and they
begin to identify with other women on how they have experienced similar situations. In this
doing, they will be in a position to acquire a sense of empowerment. Sharing the oppression they
have experienced in different fields such as families, schools and other field's catalyses the issue
of women empowerment thus being able to access the rights and opportunities available within
the society (Mehrotra, 2010).For instance, if we take a case whereby a woman was sexually
harassed she always feel isolated because of the incidence. When women meet in groups that are
those have been sexually harassed they will be in the position to share their past experiences.
When they talk more on the incidence some tend to keep distances between themselves and the
more they talk about this inhuman practice the less victimized feels the pain. If someone if I say
a good leader enters with the sense of creating victimization, isolation and idea of oppression
experienced by most of the ladies due to sexual harassment, those ladies who were sexually
harassed they feel they can come up with strategies to remind their members an increased sense
of self-esteem and also aspect of self-efficacy since they are not in position to feel so lonely
(Moser, 2012).
Feminist social work theorist majorly advocates for working with different entities within
society. It may either be working with individuals, groups in society and even it can either be the
entire community. The aim of this practice is to create a social change in society, create social
justice within the community and also to fight for human rights thus avoiding the pitfalls
experienced in the whole aspect of polarization in practices and methods and theories explained
through feminist. Also, the feminist practitioners they tend to work for all levels of practice so as

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to fight for the women and any other marginalized group in the society (Nicholson,
2013).Furthermore, those feminist practitioners working as an individual or even as a group can
help a woman in society to leave her husband who is inhuman and therefore look for another safe
place.
Case example.
In most cases, the use of feminist theories and practices to understand the concept women
empowerment in society leads to more assessment and interventions approaches that targets on
working for the minorities and another oppressed category of people within the society (Padgett,
2016). The following case example will give an insight into the aspect of feminism.
Claudia is a 33-year-old Latina who completed a 49-day inpatient substance harassment
programme whereby it was found that she was sexually tortured by his uncle who was a
physician. This inhuman practice occurred when she was 10 to 14 years old. The girl was found
to have a severe anal lesion which was caused by his uncle who used the medical instruments on
her. Claudia being a teenager and an adult she grew up with a negative attitude towards the men
in society. She later realized that she was not treated well by his uncle. His uncle used to tell her
that she was beautiful and sexy looking good (Payne, 2015).When Claudia was in high school
she joined a mentoring club whereby she also met with another Latina who was in the college. At
this level, her mother had a positive attitude on her since she served as the roles model. This
made Claudia develop a positive bicultural identity and therefore she was now in the position to
appreciate the importance of schoolwork whereby she performed well and joined a college.
However, the life in college to Claudia was not good especially during the first year being a
freshman in college. This life made Claudia separate with her mentor-her mother and

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unfortunately she found herself drinking heavily as a way of medicating the peer pressure she
found in the college (Saulnier, 2014). She joined other groups of ladies in college who used to
drink day and night. Claudia was highly addicted and she could not complete the college since
she used to escape from the school and go working to get cash for drinking with her friends. A
couple of years passed and Claudia did nothing to save her life. She lost the mutual relationship
which she had with her mother but she used Claudia to negotiate on her behalf since she had not
mastered English. Her mother did not take any action to protect Claudia from the abusive uncle.
Although Claudia had engaged in immoral practices she grew up caring for her mother. Later on,
Claudia realized that there was a feminist leader of social work practitioner who she believed she
can make a strong relationship with. At first from the empowerment perspective, the feminist
leader allowed Claudia to appreciate the victimization and the entire oppression she experienced
(Turner, 2017).Claudia was to understand how traumatized she was, how devalued she was and
how she was unprotected as she grew up to an adult. The leaders and other group members were
in the position to allow Claudia feel that it was not her fault to experience that victimization. In
the midst of the meeting Claudia was allowed to ponder on her past life and she said that she
remembered how she was tortured and got some encouragements from the feminist leaders. She
stood as if she had died from the inside once she tried to remember the incidence of
victimization.
In working with the empowerment approach based on what Claudia experienced it is crucial to
understand her self-efficacy (Tyagi, 2014).This measures the degree to which women feel they
have maximum control over the surroundings. Claudia we can see she lacked self-degree of
efficacy whereby this subjected her to the usage of drinks and other cases of drug abuse. Also,

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this facilitated negative self-image. The feminist leader and other group members in social work
perspectives enabled Claudia to realize the oppression and the entire concept of vulnerability.
This also helped other members to forget their past and focus on future goals and dreams.
Claudia self-esteem was restored and now she was in a position to identify herself as a survivor
in a tough society but not as the victim of sexual harassment in the society. From this social work
perspective on women, empowerment helped Claudia to understand that what happened to her
was not intentional and she was not protected from his abusive uncle.
In conclusion feminist and aspect of women empowerment in the society is the key thing to work
on (Hennessy, 2012).These theories provide holistic guidelines especially to the marginalized
groups in society. The major work set by these feminism theories serves an important tool that
helps society to come together and work for justice. Both the aspect of feminist and women
empowerment in society helps to create awareness on the issue equal sharing of resources and
access to power by all genders in society.

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