Critical Social Work

A comprehensive introduction to the most widely used approach to social work theory and practice. It offers a systematic overview of core theories and practice issues in challenging domination and oppression. The authors argue that a central goal of social work practice is social change to redress social inequality. Taking a critical theoretical approach that incorporates postmodern, feminist, structural and postcolonial perspectives, they explore the links between personal and social change. While many critical social work educators argue that we need to draw upon both modernist and postmodern appropriations of critical theory, this work is intended to fill a gap in the literature for a book exploring the tensions and contradictions in adopting this dual perspective. The causes of people's marginalization and oppression are examined in relation to class, race, ethnicity, gender and other forms of social inequality. Case study chapters explore theory and practice issues in working with immigrants, indigenous people, women, men, families, people with psychiatric disabilities and those experiencing loss and grief. The authors confront the challenges for critical social work in the context of pressures to separate the personal from the political and in responding to the impact of changes in the socio-political, statutory and global contexts of practice. The text is a resource for teaching critical approaches to practice and should be a valuable introduction for practitioners in the human services who are working with marginalised and oppressed populations.