Task

Critical Social Work Theories

Case study overview and analyses

Gina’s Social Positioning and Intersectionality

Gina's intersecting identities and experiences shape her social position. 

Gina, a Myanmar refugee in Australia, may face discrimination and cultural dislocation due to her minority ethnicity (Andrews, 2015). Gina may face gender-based discrimination and societal expectations, especially in her marriage and domestic duties. She is 32, so society may have career, family, and social expectations.

Her control-and-abuse marriage affects her autonomy and social freedom. Her husband's presence limits her professional and economic independence as a piano teacher.

Gina's interest in education and post-marriage discontinuation reflect a personal growth and autonomy shift. Gina struggles with communication and cultural adaptation as a non-native English speaker.

The intersection of these factors shapes her social location and interactions. 

Gina's Structural and Systemic Oppression, Discrimination, and Marginalisation

Gina's domestic abuse and marital control reflect gender inequality and patriarchal norms. Her marriage's power dynamics reflect systemic gender-based oppression, which limits women's autonomy (Mullaly & West, 2018). Gina, a refugee and minority ethnic group, may face systemic racism and cultural discrimination. Language barriers, limited access to culturally sensitive services, and social exclusion can be a few cases wherein she might have to face inequality. 

Gina's economic dependence on her husband and work restrictions highlight economic marginalisation. This dependence limits her financial independence and makes her more vulnerable to abuse and control. Gina's refugee status may affect her networks and resources. Social isolation, common among refugees and immigrants, is suggested by her loss of her social network and limited interaction with her sister.

Language barriers, lack of rights awareness, and culturally competent service availability may prevent Gina from receiving support. This is systemic oppression because the system fails to meet its constituents' diverse needs. In some cultures, mental health stigma may prevent Gina from seeking help. Stigma and a lack of culturally sensitive mental health services marginalise her.

Gina may struggle to understand and navigate Australia's legal system, especially regarding domestic abuse rights (Andrews, 2015). In addition, her refugee status and language barriers complicate matters. Post-marriage music and education curtailment highlights a systemic issue where women sacrifice personal and professional development for marital and domestic roles.

The social work system must be critically examined to ensure it empowers clients like Gina rather than perpetuating systemic biases. This includes defending her rights, providing resources, and challenging oppressive social norms (Mullaly & West, 2018). Gina's intersectionality must be acknowledged and addressed.

A combination of her gender, ethnicity, and marital status contribute to her unique experiences of oppression and marginalisation. Gina's strengths should be recognised despite these challenges. Social workers should recognise and build on her musical talent, educational interests, and resilience.

Thus, Gina's experiences show structural and systemic oppression, discrimination, and marginalisation rooted in gender, culture, and economy. Critical social work must consider these intersecting identities and provide holistic, culturally sensitive, and empowering support that addresses her immediate needs and systemic issues.

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Application of AOP to Case Study

Social workers use Anti-Oppressive Practise (AOP) to challenge power imbalances and systemic inequalities (Barney, 2020). Being aware of these dynamics and working inclusively, equitably, and just empowers people.

Applying AOP to Gina's case will require several steps and considerations

It will be vital to understand power dynamics in Gina's life. She may face power imbalances in her marriage, systemic power structures that marginalise her as a woman, refugee, and minority. I will manoeuvre Gina's needs, choices, and voice to empower her. This means that I will actively listen to her story, understand her goals, and respect her decisions, even if they differ from what I feel the best.

I will also explore options with her and not for her. The discourse might include probable way forward for her personal and professional development, safety planning, and acquiring support systems (Pease et al., 2016). I shall respect Gina's culture and refugee experiences by making sure that any piece of intervention is culturally delicate and appropriate. If needed, I will make sure to provide her interpreters or bilingual services to help her overcome language barriers and improve communication.

I shall locate and challenge Gina's systemic obstacles. This includes defending her rights, providing domestic abuse legal resources, and ensuring she receives appropriate services. I shall also address service system and societal discrimination. 
I will also work with other professionals and agencies to support Gina holistically which could include immigrant and refugee support, legal services, domestic violence support groups, and mental health professionals (Barney, 2020). I shall also ensure Gina's rights and concerns are heard and addressed in these systems.

Examples of AOP in Practice

I will make sure that my first introduction with Gina is safe and welcoming. I will use nonjudgmental and respectful language and if needed, hire an interpreter for her for clear communication. I will ensure to hear her perspective on her story and instead of assuming her background or current situation, I will ask about her needs, concerns, and goals.

I shall create a domestic violence safety plan with Gina to address her immediate concerns. This plan should fit her needs and situation. Also, provide her with culturally appropriate and accessible domestic violence services.

I shall discuss Gina's interest in continuing her education and find safe and achievable ways for her to do so. Moreover, I will also help her explore piano teaching or other career options that match her skills and interests.

I will encourage her sister and other supportive community members to connect. This could involve organising community events or connecting her with groups with similar interests. I will inform Gina her legal rights, especially regarding domestic violence, immigration, and employment and provide her with culturally and linguistically sensitive legal services if needed.

I will refer her to culturally competent mental health services that have experience working with domestic abuse survivors and will make these mental health services accessible to Gina. I shall support Gina in complex legal, housing, and social services systems. This includes taking her to appointments and making sure the services she uses are appropriate.

I shall address racism, gender-based violence, and refugee rights, which affect Gina, through community education and advocacy (Quinn, 2009). I shall also ask Gina about her service and support experiences regularly and shall be ready to change my strategy after her feedback.  

Critical Practice Framework Reflection

Several key learnings and lessons from the critical practise framework in social work will shape my future practise (Healy, 2022). This reflective process also involves aligning critical social work perspectives with my personal values and ethics and using critical reflection as a key skill.

Important Lessons for Critical Social Work Practise

Recognising and understanding intersectionality in clients' lives is a key lesson (Mattsson, 2014). Every person's race, gender, age, and socioeconomic status affect their experiences and interactions with social systems. Holistic and effective support requires this understanding.

Critical social work practise emphasises the need to recognise and challenge power imbalances in client-social worker relationships and society. This requires awareness of one's power and privilege and using it to empower clients.

Empowering clients rather than imposing solutions has been a major learning. This means taking a client-centered approach, respecting their voice and choices, and helping them achieve self-determination and autonomy.

The importance of cultural competence and sensitivity in practise cannot be overstated. Effective and respectful service requires understanding and respecting clients' cultures. Future practise will emphasise social workers' advocacy for social justice (Pease et al., 2016). This includes individual client support and systemic advocacy to address inequalities.

Working with other professionals and services is valuable. A multidisciplinary approach provides comprehensive client support tailored to their needs. Social work and best practises are always changing. Effective social workers must continue their education, stay current on research, and be open to new ideas.

Alignment with My Values and Ethics

A fundamental value is respect for each person's inherent dignity and worth. Critical social work upholds this value and actively protects individuals' rights and dignity. Personal ethics include a strong commitment to social justice, equality, and challenging injustices and inequalities (Pease et al., 2016). Critical social work's advocacy and systemic issues align with this commitment.

Personal values include empathy and compassion, and critical social work emphasises understanding clients' experiences and supporting them with sensitivity. Maintaining high ethical standards and integrity in practise is essential. Critical social work emphasises reflective practise and ethical decision-making, which supports integrity.

Using Critical Reflection in Critical Social Work

Critical reflection helps maintain self-awareness, especially about personal biases and how they affect practise. Fair, unbiased, and respectful practise requires self-awareness. Critical reflection on client interactions to evaluate communication, interventions, and client responses is essential for continuous practise improvement.

Critical reflection will assess client systemic barriers and how they can be addressed in individual cases and advocacy work. Reflective practise will help identify areas for learning and growth. Critical reflection helps make ethical decisions that are thoughtful, consider all factors, and follow professional ethics and values. Critical reflection will help social workers adapt to new challenges and needs in a rapidly changing world, keeping them relevant and effective. 

Therefore, the critical practise framework offers a nuanced and ethical approach to social work. 

 

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References

Andrews, S. (2015). Reimagining social work from an Aboriginal perspective. Connolly, M (Ed.). Harms, L (Ed.). Social Work: From Theory to Practice, (second), pp.1-13. Cambridge University Press.
Barney, R. (2020). How social workers can use a human rights approach to disasters: Lessons learned from the international community. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 5(1), 28-38.  
Healy, K. (2022). Social work theories in context: Creating frameworks for practice. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Chapter 9 Modern Critical Social Work: Addressing Structural Contexts (pp 221- 241) 
Mattsson, T. (2014). Intersectionality as a useful tool: Anti-oppressive social work and critical reflection. Affilia, 29(1), 8-17.
Mullaly, B., & West, J. (2018). Challenging oppression and confronting privilege: A critical approach to anti-oppressive and anti-privilege theory and practice (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. Oppression: An overview (pp. 1-34).
Pease, B., Goldingay, S., Hosken, N., & Nipperess, S. (Eds.). (2016). Doing critical social work Transformative practices for social justice. Taylor & Francis Group. Chapter 1: Doing critical social work in the neoliberal context: Working on contradictions
Quinn, M. (2009). Towards anti-racist and culturally affirming practices. In B. Pease, J. Allan, & L. Briskman (Eds.), Critical social work: Theories and practices for a socially just world (2nd ed., pp. 91-104). Allen & Unwin.