SWRK 2040 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Internalized Oppression, Consciousness Raising, Railways Act 1921

• School: University of Windsor
• Department: Social Work
• Course: SWRK 2040
• Professor: Kelly Ann Spezowka

Document Summary

Guiding principle for structural social work: everything that we do must contribute to social transformation. This doesn"t necessarily mean that we all need to be engaged directly in macro level work as the sole focus of our practice/employment. We can contribute to social transformation through our work at the micro level with individuals, groups, and families; this approach is grounded in radical humanism. Changing human consciousness on a massive scale is necessary for social change. To do this, need to focus on individuals first and foremost. Radical humanism contends that before social change can occur, we must change individuals as individual change is a pre-requisite to social change. Structural social workers believe that social change comes about best by simultaneously changing individuals (radical humanism) and changing social structures (radical structuralism) Key aspects of social work practice with service users: Foster resiliencies and strengths so that individuals can engage in individual and/or collective social action against oppression.