Culturally Competent Feminist Social Work

Abstract

Feminist social work seeks to identify and redress oppression and its aftereffects. Models of culturally competent practice have been proposed to aid in these efforts. Yet it is not clear whether members of marginalized groups agree with feminist social workers' ideas regarding cultural competence. This article presents recommendations for culturally competent social work services that are based on in-depth interviews with 40 members of a range of oppressed groups. The recommendations support theoretical work in this area and offer achievable standards for feminist social workers who are seeking to enhance cultural competence that is grounded in the words of disenfranchised individuals.

Attachment tHAIRapy

“…The Attachment tHAIRapy project hinges upon the integral role of hair for African American females, utilizing hair care as a vehicle for acknowledging culture and promoting attachment in a therapeutic context. Research contends that treatment providers need to move toward combining generalized cultural competence information with information specific to the needs of the disenfranchised clients with whom they work (Gentlewarrior, Martin-Jearld, Skok, & Swetser, 2008). It is imperative that interventions to promote safe environments and support healthful relationships are established and implemented in a culturally pertinent context in order to be effective with marginalized African American foster youth who are heavily influenced by both African American and foster care cultures.…”

Challenging Controlling Images, Oppression, Poverty, and Other Structural Constraints: Survival Strategies Among African–American Women in Distressed Households

“…Specifically, policies must challenge mainstream assumptions by educating the public about the insidious affect of stereotypes, stimulate the creation of meaningful employment for the poor, and focus on family preservation as opposed to family separation. Moreover, comprehensive intervention programs are needed at the community level to foster educational attainment, employment, mental health treatment, and family preservation (also see Freire 2000; Gentlewarrior, Martin-Jearld, Skok, and Sweetser 2008). Service providers must continue to advance methods that inform the public and challenge stereotypes about impoverished Black women through research and practice.…”

Making Sense of the Waves: Wipeout or Still Riding High?

“…They have criticized second-wave strands for their universalisms that are not relevant to all women, children, and men (Featherstone, 2001) and for their homogeneous view of gender and oppression (Dietz, 2000;Johnson-Bailey, 2003;Samuels & Ross-Sheriff, 2008). This critique has resulted in a greater emphasis in social work on issues of power and oppression as they relate to social identities, such as race, class, disability, and sexuality (Gentlewarrior, Martin-Jearld, Skok, & Sweetsert, 2008). It has also led to greater appreciation of difference and diversity (Featherstone, 2001), freedom from eitherÀor choices (Pennell & Ristock, 1999), emphasis on self-reflexive practice (Fawcett, Featherstone, Fook, & Rossiter, 2000), and attention to deconstructing both femininity and masculinity (Featherstone, 2001).…”