This approach goes back to the nineteenth century and has a variety of perspectives (Payne, 2014). Most foundational works of feminism were not research-based and are currently still debated, challenged and modified in many different contexts (Gunew, 2013). Historically feminism was based on white middle-class women’s perspectives, nowadays there is a move for intersectionality within feminism (Nixon & Humphreys, 2010) and the re-thinking of feminism affected by globalisation (Dominelli, 2010). Hanmer and Statham (1999) and Dominelli (2010) have made important contributions to feminist social work practice through the development of a code for women-centred practice.
Purpose This approach contributes, explains and responds to the …show more content…
Feminism stands up to the oppression of women in society and in relationships that privilege men and exclude and devalue women, where women’s personal problems often arise from uneven power distribution in political and economic systems which affect women on all levels of life (Hanisch, 1969). The underlying ideology of feminist theory involves an effort to dismantle gender inequality relating to women’s rights in many contexts (Hughes, …show more content…
Feminist activism began in the early 1900’s to achieve political and legal property rights, in the late 1900’s it fought for inequality in spheres of life affecting interpersonal relationships and recently there has been a backlash against feminist thinking (Payne, 2014). Feminist theory is based in structuralist, critical or post-modernist and post structural ideas but ultimately feminist theory has its roots in the ideas of knowledge which offer critical explanations of women’s subordination (Hughes, 1997).
Intervention The main areas of feminist social work deal with women’s conditions, the development of women-centred practice, practice showing women’s different voices, and practice that works with diversity (Orme, 2009 cited in Payne, 2014). Feminist theory is often focused in social work practice with women affected by domestic violence or sexual assault or in areas of women’s mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, poverty and child welfare (Payne, 2014).