ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICE - Open University

1 CHAPTER 14 ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICEB everley Burke and Philomena HarrisonINTRODUCTIONThe complex nature of oppression is witnessed in the lives of people whoare marginalised in this society. As social work practitioners, we have amoral, ethical and legal responsibility to challenge inequality and disad-vantage. Historically, the profession, in attempting to understand, explainand offer solutions to the difficulties experienced by groups and indi-viduals, has drawn from, among others, the disciplines of sociology, psy-chology, history, philosophy and politics. This multidisciplined theoreticalframework, informed by ANTI-OPPRESSIVE principles, provides socialworkers with a tool to understand and respond to the complexity of theexperience of chapter explores how a theorised social work PRACTICE informed byanti- oppressive principles can be sensitively and effectively used to address theinequalities of oppression that determine the life chances of service users.

2 [..]Black feminist thought is a dynamic perspective, derived from diverselived experiences , that not only analyses human interactions based onprinciples of equality, but also considers the interconnections that existbetween the major social divisions of class, race, gender, disability, sexual-ity and age as they impact on the individual, family and community. [..]We hold the view that personal experiences are inextricably linked toand determined by social , cultural, political and economic relationshipswithin specific geographical and historical situations. This process of loca-tion allows us to challenge those who see only our race, gender or class,Source: Adams, R.

3 , Dominelli, L. and Payne, M. (2002) ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICE , Basingstoke:Palgrave MacMillan Ltd: 227 to understand that it is the interconnections between the social divi-sions to which we belong that defines who we are (Lorde 1984).The finding of solutions to and explanations of oppressive situationsand practices poses a real challenge for those committed to making a dif-ference. A starting point would, therefore, have to be a clear understand-ing of what is meant by ANTI-OPPRESSIVE IS ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICE ?[..] ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICE is a dynamic process based on the changingcomplex patterns of social relations. It is, therefore, important that a defin-ition is informed by research within academic institutions, practitionerresearch and the views of service users.

4 For the purposes of this chapter,we provide below a definition (with all the attendant problems of defin-ing) which incorporates points already discussed providing a framework toclarify and inform (1995: 65) uses the term ANTI-OPPRESSIVE :to indicate an explicit evaluative position that constructs social divi-sions (especially race , class, gender, disability, sexual orientation andage) as matters of broad social structure, at the same time as beingpersonal and organisational issues. It looks at the use and abuse ofpower not only in relation to individual or organisational behaviour,which may be overtly, covertly or indirectly racist, classist, sexist andso on, but also in relation to broader social structures for example, thehealth, educational, political and economic, media and culturalsystems and their routine provision of services and rewards for power-ful groups at local as well as national and international levels.

5 Thesefactors impinge on people s life stories in unique ways that have to beunderstood in their socio-historical complexity.(Clifford 1995: 65)Within this definition, there is a clear understanding of the use and abuseof power within relationships on personal, family, community, organisa-tional and structural levels. These levels are not mutually exclusive theyare interconnected, shaping and determining social reality. Clifford,informed by the writings of black feminist and other non-dominant per-spectives (Clifford 1995), has formulated the following anti -oppressiveprinciples, which provide the foundation for a social work assessment thatis theorised and empowering:132 ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICE social differences arise because of disparities ofpower between the dominant and dominated social groups.

6 The majordivisions are described in terms of race, gender, class, sexual prefer-ence, disability and age. Other differences, such as those of religion,region, mental health and single parenthood, exist and interact with themajor divisions, making the understanding and experience of oppres-sion a complex matter. Linking personal and political. Personal biographies are placed withina wider social context and the individual s life situation is viewed inrelation to social systems such as the family, peer groups, organisationsand communities. For example, the problems associated with ageingare not solely due to the individual but should be understood in rela-tion to the ageist ideologies, policies and practices that exist within thesocial environment in which the individual is located.

7 Power. Power is a social concept which can be used to explore the publicand private spheres of life (Barker and Roberts 1993). In PRACTICE , powercan be seen to operate at the personal and structural levels. It is influ-enced by social , cultural, economic and psychological factors. All thesefactors need to be taken into account in any analysis of how individualsor groups gain differential access to resources and positions of power. Historical and geographical location. Individual life experiences andevents are placed within a specific time and place, so that these experi-ences are given meaning within the context of prevailing ideas, socialfacts and cultural differences.

8 Reflexivity/mutual is the continual considera-tion of how values, social difference and power affect the interactionsbetween individuals. These interactions are to be understood not onlyin psychological terms, but also as a matter of sociology, history, ethicsand above principles relate to each other, interconnecting and overlappingat all times. Working from a perspective that is informed by anti -oppres-sive principles provides an approach that begins to match the complexissues of power, oppression and powerlessness that determine the lives ofthe people who are recipients of social care services. An understanding ofthese principles brings with it a fundamental transformation in the rela-tionship that exists between the assessment of a situation and the nature ofthe action that is required to change the existing state of driving force of ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICE is the act of challenginginequalities.

9 Opportunities for change are created by the process of thechallenge. Challenges are not always successful and are often painful forthe person or group being challenged or challenging. A challenge, at itsbest, involves changes at macro- and micro-levels. If ANTI-OPPRESSIVE prac-tice is to provide appropriate and sensitive services that are needs-ledrather than resource-driven, it has to embody:B. BURKE, P. HARRISON133a person centred philosophy; and egalitarian value system concernedwith reducing the deleterious effects of structural inequalities uponpeople s lives; a methodology focusing on both process and outcome;and a way of structuring relationships between individuals that aimsto empower users by reducing the negative effects of social hierarchieson their interaction and the work they do together.

10 (Dominelli 1994: 3)Work in welfare organisations is constrained by financial, social , legis-lative and organisational policies. social workers operating within such anenvironment will inevitably face conflicting and competing demands ontheir personal and professional resources. The use of ANTI-OPPRESSIVE prin-ciples offers the worker a way of responding to and managing these some-times hostile and disempowering situations which affect both worker anduser. [..]A decision was made by a social services department that changed thelife of a family. A young, single, 19-year-old black woman was told thatthe care plan regarding her 20-month-old son was that of adoption.