Remaking Social Work by Applying an Anti-oppressive Lens

Anti-oppressive social work has become a central topic among social work scholars, guiding the analysis of practices, services, and policies. Both theoretical and empirical studies highlight the importance of raising awareness about the multiple, and sometimes conflicting, mandates of social workers, guiding a process of reflexivity on challenges and ethical dilemmas. As the literature on anti-oppressive practice in social work is scarce, this research has two aims: (1) analyzing the social workers’ opinions about their role in fighting against oppression and discrimination and in enacting a “political role”; and (2) exploring the types of oppression and discrimination in the everyday practice within social work agencies. The wider purpose is to foster a debate on this topic, contributing in raising awareness and advancing knowledge about processes that can promote or hamper anti-oppressive ways of practicing social work. The aim is also to coconstruct knowledge about transnational sources of injustice, contributing in moving the conceptual apparatus of social work practice forward, while understanding the complex interaction between transnational actors. We think this is a way to rethinking social work in a global world, providing new frames to empower social workers and people, standing together for social justice and social change.