SOAD2010 Intersectionality and Social Work

Power, privilege and oppression are the central themes of this topic and much of social work practice. Week by week we will examine the operations of privilege and oppression on the basis of class, gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, age and ability. Guided by an egalitarian social justice agenda, the topic will explore how unearned entitlements and undeserved penalties are distributed across diverse populations. Insights drawn from these analyses will form the basis of the practice interventions promoted.

This topic aims to:

• Critically analyse the notion of diversity and diverse populations, especially as they are applied in education, health and welfare
• Conceptualise power, privilege and oppression in relation to social workers and the practices they employ with diverse populations
• Examine how specific groups identified as diverse, can see the world differently from others

1. Explain how power, privilege and oppression pattern the lives of diverse populations
2. Discuss why critical social work practices are relevant to working with diverse populations
3. Discuss how critical social work practices may be undertaken with diverse populations
4. Explain how social justice principles are realised through advocacy, allyship and social work practice