Applying Feminist and Strength-Based Theories to the Cruise Family

This case study examines the Cruise family's emotional, financial, and familial challenges through the lens of Feminist Theory and Strength-Based Theory. Feminist Theory addresses the power imbalances between men and women, while Strength-Based Theory focuses on the family's inherent strengths and resources. The analysis identifies principles from each theory, highlighting male dominance and patriarchal structures within the family, as well as the family's unity and potential for positive change. The application of these theories aims to provide insights into empowering the family and addressing issues such as unemployment, health concerns, and behavioral problems in the children. The study underscores the importance of collaboration between social workers and the family to foster self-respect and effective interventions, emphasizing the need to build on existing strengths rather than focusing solely on weaknesses.

Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Feminism Theory.............................................................................................................................2
The Strength Based Theory.............................................................................................................5
Identification of principle of two theories.......................................................................................8
Feminist Theory...........................................................................................................................8
Strength Based Theory.................................................................................................................8
An explanation of why I choose the specific theory........................................................................8
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................13
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Introduction
This case study is about the emotional, financial and family issues which are faced by the
Cruise family. The two theories chosen to address the problems faced by this family in the
given case study are the feminist theory and the strength waste theory. Both these theories
are chosen for describing the situation and two principles are derived from each theory at
the end. The feminist theory takes into consideration the imbalance in the financial and
political power distribution between the men and women and its resultant abuse. The
strength-based theory prioritizes the environment that people live in and their behavior and
all the other factors that affect their lives. This paper will help in clarifying the basic
elements of the feminist and the strength based theory with regard to the situation being
faced by the Cruise family. The application of these specific theories is done on the given
case and a brief discussion of the empowerment theory and AOP is also carried out towards
the end to draw meaningful conclusions from it.
Feminism Theory
Feminism is for the equality of men and women in power-sharing. According to Hooks, (2000), "
Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression". It brings equality to
men and women from political, social and economic aspects. Feminist theory has always been
about viewing the social world in a way that illuminates the forces that create and support
inequality, oppression, and injustice, and in doing so, promotes the pursuit of equality and justice
(Crossman, 2018). The feminist theory takes into consideration numerous movements and
programs that help in protecting the female population and their rights. The primary objective of
this theory is to work towards building a society where the men and women are not discriminated
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(Edwin, 2014). This discrimination is currently practiced on the basis of the gender all over the
world and even though all the government have developed and implemented policies for
protecting the rights of the women this discrimination is still continuing in the society.
Simply making the women feel included does not fulfill the objective of feminism. Our
community also needs to ensure that the females are given equal consideration and are also
engaged and allowed participation in the development of a system as well as the decision making
process for developing the policies to be implemented in the community and that is directed
towards shipping our society. Uncle John is the one that causes conflict and quarrels in the house
but Jill does not have any power to prohibit him from entering the house or spending time with
her kids. Ivan Antony and Andrew practice verbal abuse at home and do not treat Jill with
equality or respect.
The feminist theory acknowledges the significance of gendered power relations in shaping the
opportunities available for men and women to build their lives in accordance with their views of
their needs. Feminist theory recognizes the capacity of women to take action on their action on
their own behalf and to demonstrate solidarity across a range of social division and this theory is
about respecting women's multiple and fluid identities. The role of expectations, status, and
power differences relating to gender are examined. The feminists deliberately commit to
transforming oppressive systems to achieve parity between men and women. Bob and Jill both
are contributing to their family how much they can and both do respect each other's work. Bob is
caring towards his wife and he is responsive to Jill's disability. Bob and Jill both are equally
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concerned about the betterment of their family and the well-being of the children (Guo, Tsui, &
Guo, 2010).
The Cruise family is male dominant. It looks like nothing wrong in this family but internally Jill
is dominated by her children and Uncle John. She does not like uncle John inside her house and
with her children but she is not being able to stop him. Bob is the caregiver for the family and Jill
is following him. Jill does not have the power to take the decision about her family. Male and
female children grow with different socialization and it is based on patriarchy. Lisa is always
rallying for attention; she is not getting required attention because of being female and Anthony
and Andrew being male taking their own decision about not going to school and to the
community service.
The social worker can suggest Jill to practice and evolve in some outdoor activities which can
divert her from the current situation or she can be suggested to evolve in some local community
social groups where she can interact with others and share a sense of unity, experiences and
common identity. It will also inspire Anthony and Andrew to participate in community services
which can help them to avoid spending more time with uncle John and interact with their same
age-group and others. This can also help Jill to get rid of her Anxiety and panic attract (Saulnier,
2000).
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The Strength Based Theory
The strengths-based theory utilizes the strengths of the individual, family, group or organization
as an intervention to aid recovery, empowerment, and reconstruction of hope. Whilst the focus is
to exploit inherent abilities and talents as opposed to weaknesses, consideration rests on what has
worked before, what does not work now, and what works concurrently.
According to Morgan and Ziglio (2007), strengths-based theory entails a collaborative process
between the person supported by services and those supporting them, allowing them to work
together to determine an outcome that draws on the person’s strengths and assets. Duncan and
Hubble (2000) view the strengths-based approach considers what people can do with their skills
and their resources and what can the people around them do in their relationships and their
communities. Therefore, strength theory is a teamwork between client and the social worker
where the social worker assists the client to capitalize on resources and assets to tackle
challenges.
The principle notion in the strengths-based approach is that individuals, families, and groups
have strengths and resources which can be tapped into solving life challenges. The emphasis is
on determining and marshaling assets and resources, respecting the innate wisdom and
knowledge people have and the resources in their environment. Attention is on what works well
(Morgan and Ziglio, 2007). The Cruise family has innate capacities which can be realized to
solve the problems affecting them. Notably, the family is living as one unity, that is parents live
with their children in a stable accommodation. The family is not fragmented or separated, this
forms a good foundation to instill interventions which erase stresses.
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According to Rapp and Goscha (2006), the strengths-based theory assumes that all individuals
have strengths and capacities, people are dynamic and can change as they grow through own
strengths and capacities, challenges can distract people from recognizing their strengths, people
have the expertise to address their problems. Bob, Jill and the children all have dormant
potentials which need refocusing to create a positive family environment. The family challenges
like unemployment, health issues, abusive children may distract them from recognizing their
potentials. Bob’s strengths include the ability to undertake cash in hand jobs, willingness and
readiness to take care of Jill, being a caring father figure in the family, and the availability of
care’s pension, as well as the capacity to send children to school. With social work positive
realignment of these opportunities, the Cruise family can solve their issues (Rapp & Goscha,
2011).
The strengths-based theory necessitates collaboration between the client and social worker. This
can be achieved through deliberate acknowledgment that clients have experience, knowledge,
and wisdom which can be blended with social work experience and skills to realize outcomes
which clients own and appreciate. Thus, the client ought to be heard and consulted.
Collaboration creates an opportunity for individuals, families, and groups to be co-producers of
services and support rather than acting merely as consumers of services, in the same vein, the
social workers do not act as experts on the individuals (Morgan & Ziglio, 2007). The relationship
between the social worker and the Cruise family need not be that of a doctor and patient but must
be consultative, involving and participative. Social work intervention must be tailored to what
the family value and choose to create relevance and ownership (Lietz, 2009).
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Wendt and Seymour (2010) argue that clients are helped to discover and explore own strengths
whilst the social worker avails the necessary support and resources. Consequently, the clients
will be self-respecting and ultimately appreciate the social worker interventions. The Cruise
family needs assistance to manage children behaviors of truancy, verbal abuse, and vandalism,
financial assistance as well as health management. The social work help can be initiated in
pursuance of the discovered strengths. Pinning interventions on prevailing capacities make the
outcomes meaningful to the family (Wendt & Seymour, 2010).
Early and GlenMaye (2004) agree with McLean J (2011) that the strengths theory does not
ignore weaknesses but rather does not start with them. The strengths-based approach desists from
categorizing clients, for instance, using stigmatizing and labeling terminology, which the
vulnerable people may have been familiarized to and finally accept, and then assume a feeling of
helplessness to change (Early & GlenMaye, 2000). Social workers do not perceive clients in
adversity as lazy, disabled, mental wreck, deranged, or hopeless but as people facing short-term
or long-term challenges which invoke social work intervention. The social worker must use
disparaging generalized annotations on the Cruise family, but must be perceived positively as a
family in need of help (McLean, 2011).
The strengths approach reassures hope in individuals, families, and groups through underlining
current, and historical successes in carer, professional and personal contexts, thus, laying the
foundation for realistic prospects in addressing the pressing problems (Saleebey, 2006). Realistic
opportunities derive from the fact that Bob and Jill are loving carers to their children and they
can discuss the undesirability of Uncle John, they have financial assistance. The social worker
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needs to advocate for the continuance and improvement of the financial help and guarantee Bob
that it will not be cut. A way can be crafted to evict Uncle John from the house to save the
Anthony and Andrew. Jill’s health management can be aided through availing treatment
packages like Medicare card.
Identification of principle of two theories
Feminist Theory
 All major social institutions (economy, political system, family, religion) have been
characterized by male dominance (Hewitt, 2010).
 Society is based on patriarchy which is a system in which males dominate females.
(Hewitt, 2010).
Strength Based Theory
 Strength based theory focused on strengths, ability, potential rather than problems and
deficits.
 Focus on the whole person and recognize their social context and help them to do things
for themselves
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An explanation of why I choose the specific theory
The goal of social work is to demonstrate the compatibility with feminist philosophy and carry
out an analysis of the range of issues like family conflict, incest, child abuse (M. Rusell, 1989,
Vol.6). Social workers can choose wisely among the theories to solve the social and other
problems of all women. Feminist theory focuses on misperceptions, sexual inequalities,
restrictions, and oppression faced by women. feminist theories explain the structure and
dynamics of women’s experiences within sociopolitical an interpersonal sexual hierarchies and
draw attention to the ways in which everyday actions can shore up the discriminatory social
structure. The Cruise family is following feminism's major basic principle that social intuitions
(economy, political system, family, and religion) have been characterized by male dominance.
Bob is leading the family and taking the responsibility and helping Jill. They are caring for their
children equally. However, Uncle John is center of frequent quarreling and may be the reason of
Jill's anxiety and panic attacks but Jill cannot take any action on that; may culturally not being
able to stop John. Lisa is not getting much attention and Anthony and Andrew are verbally
abusive to Jill maybe because of being female (Russell, 1989).
Saleebey (2009) concurs with Early and GlenMaye (2004) that the strengths-based theory
recognizes that mainly the people facing life challenges, become resourceful, resilient, and adopt
coping strategies. The previous resilience strategies can be recalled in the context of the
presenting adversities to craft capacities to maneuver towards physical, social, cultural, and
psychological resources accessible to them. This creates culturally relevant and meaningful
approaches augment resilience. The Cruise family has adopted coping strategies as well. For
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instance, Bob has plumbing skills, the family notices the importance of schooling for the
children, and they look for and accept social work assistance. The social workers need to identify
and reinforce these strengths. The strength-based theory enables the social worker to help the
Cruise family to identify and exploit their strengths which can be used to solve the Cruise
family's challenges. The Cruise family has a lot of strengths like Bob is doing cash in hand job to
manage his financial condition and helping Jill in household things at the same time (Saleebey,
2009).
Most feminist theories suggest ways to help eliminate misperceptions, sexual inequalities,
restrictions, and oppression faced by women. Many writers have pointed this out.
Empowerment theory is a process that fosters power in people for use in their own lives.
According to Cornell Empowerment Group (1989), empowerment can be defined as an ongoing
process that is intentionally carried out and directed towards the local community this process
helps in developing mutual respect for all the members of the society and allows the members to
carry out critical reflection and group participation to ensure an even distribution of resources
among the members of the society. Cruise family is struggling with the familial and emotional
problems and not being not being able to live in a proper way. The social workers can transfer
power by engaging them in deliberation (Mikkola, 2017).
The Cruise family can solve their problems with the help of AOP by taking timely help and
actions about all the situations that are concerning them. AOP can help the family in overcoming
all their personal problems by providing them the required assistance from the society all the
Institutions working towards social welfare. There are numerous ways through which the family
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will be able to address any challenges that they face in future and also cope up with the risks that
may be presented to them. The government is also working towards improving the standard of
living of the people that fall below the poverty line. The implement Strategies and schemes
regularly for ensuring that the basic requirements of these people are fulfilled. The Cruise family
and all its members face the problems that can be solved by adopting creative ideas and effective
techniques device and implemented through AOP (Quiroz, 2014).
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Conclusion
The feminist theory considers the financial and political power imbalance amongst man and
women, and the resultant abuse and minimization. It brings equality to men and women from
political, social and economic aspects. The strengths-based approach considers the knowledge,
skills, capacity, and potential of the individuals and of the community to which they belong.
Simply focusing on the strength of the individuals and the community, does not indicate that the
challenges faced by them are ignored. The practitioners should understand and collaboratively
work towards empowering the people and allowing them to help themselves. This will not only
help in ensuring that passive support is not provided to them but also assist them in co-producing
support for themselves. Simply addressing the care needs of the people is not enough, they need
to be provided the required assistance and guidance to help them in bringing about changes in
their lives.
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References
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Wendt, S., & Seymour, S. (2010). Applying Post-structuralist Ideas to Empowerment:
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