Anti-oppressive social work

What is oppression?
Oppression takes place when a policy or Act is enacted
unjustly against an individual or group. This includes
depriving people of a way to make a fair living , to
participate in all aspects of social life or to experience
basic freedom and human rights. It also includes
imposing belief systems, values, laws and ways of life
on other groups.
Anti-oppressive social work
Practice of social work that focuses on ending
socioeconomic oppression.

The Exclusion that results from oppression or vice versa,

can affect an individual or a system greatly.

AOP Seeks to lessen the exclusion of certain social groups

from social equality, rights and social justice.

It tries to offer more suitable, responsive services to lessen

social inequalities
 AOP examine the power in order to develop strategies for
creating an egalitarian environment free from oppression,
racism, and other forms of discrimination in the larger society

 The simplest directive for AOP is to minimize power

hierarchies, by assisting to build the power of those who hold a
marginalized identity and/or reducing the unfair power of
those of privileged status

 Social workers should familiarise with human rights, various

cultural issues to engage in effective anti-oppressive practice
Radical Social Work
Provide insight into the causes of hardship for
individuals and offers ways in which we could
approach these problems and support the people
Developed to alleviate the consequences imposed
onto individuals in a dominant capitalist society
Capitalism depends on exploitation of labour
Radical social work involves understanding
oppression in the context of socio-economic structures
rather than affixing problems to the individuals who
are oppressed
Four aims of radical practice: education, linking
people with systems, building counter systems,
individual & structural responses
A dominating feature of RSW aims for values of
equality, justice and collective action
Very new and different from what is traditional or
ordinary
Focuses on class oppression
Explains social problems as arising form various forms
of oppression
Working towards the transformation of capitalist
society

Strengths Perspective

The strengths perspective and strengths-based

approaches offer service providers ways of working
that focus on strengths, abilities and potential rather
than problems, deficits and pathologies.
The following are seven important principles of
the strengths perspective
 People are recognised as having many strengths and have the
capacity to continue to learn, grow and change.
 The focus of intervention is on the strengths and aspirations of
the people we work with.
 Communities and social environments are seen as being full of
resources.
 Service providers collaborate with the people they work with.
 Interventions are based on self-determination.
 There is a commitment to empowerment.
 Problems are seen as the result of
interactions between individuals, organisations or structures
rather than deficits within individuals, organisations or structures.
The following are seven important principles of
the strengths perspective
 People are recognised as having many strengths and have the
capacity to continue to learn, grow and change.
 The focus of intervention is on the strengths and aspirations of
the people we work with.
 Communities and social environments are seen as being full of
resources.
 Service providers collaborate with the people they work with.
 Interventions are based on self-determination.
 There is a commitment to empowerment.
 Problems are seen as the result of
interactions between individuals, organisations or structures
rather than deficits within individuals, organisations or structures.
Task Centered Approach
“…a method of social work in which clients are
helped to carry out problem - alleviating tasks
within agreed periods of time” (Goldberg,
Gibbons and Sinclair, 1985: 5)
“…problems are defined into identifiable pieces
of behaviour. They are dealt with discretely.
Goals are set and mutually agreed with service
users. Involvement proceeds by way of small,
sequential, manageable steps”.
Task Centered Approach
“…a method of social work in which clients are
helped to carry out problem - alleviating tasks
within agreed periods of time” (Goldberg,
Gibbons and Sinclair, 1985: 5)
“…problems are defined into identifiable pieces
of behaviour. They are dealt with discretely.
Goals are set and mutually agreed with service
users. Involvement proceeds by way of small,
sequential, manageable steps”.
The sequence of intervention
According to Doel (2002) Task Centred Practice
is based around four stages and processes:
Phase 1: Developing a focus on the problem
Phase 2: Reaching Agreement: Goals and
Contracts
Phase 3: Developing Goals into manageable
tasks
Phase 4: Ending and reviewing the work
Task Centred Practice: Goals and Steps

Defining the problem,

establishing goals, and
the steps to achieving
each goal are the
essence of Task
Centred Practice
Problems addressed by the task-centered model
are:
•Interpersonal Conflict
•Dissatisfaction in Social Relations
•Problems with Formal Organizations
•Difficulty in Role Performance
•Decision Problems
•Reactive Emotional Distress
•Inadequate Resources
•Other Psychological or Behavioral Problems
Gandhian Theory/Gandhian
social Work
1. Mahatma Gandhi- A brief history
2. Gandhi’s perception of an ideal society
3. Value base of Gandhi’s ideal society
4. Gandhian Constructive Programme
5. Methods of Gandhian Social Work
6. Characteristics of Gandhian Social Work