Debunking the myth of the ‘radical profession’: analysing and overcoming our professional history to create new pathways and opportunities for social work

Abstract

The social work profession has often been portrayed as a progressive, critical and even radical movement for social justice and social change (Wagner, 1990; Reisch, 2013). This article analyses the basis of these claims and critiques the labelling of social work as radical, utilising a philosophy-of-science lens and critical theories and perspectives to interrogate the professionalisation of social work, the current knowledge base and practices, and the history of social work. The final analysis finds that social work is not a radical profession due to the influence of neoliberal values and social forces that promote the status quo. Implications point to a need to move beyond the myth of the radical profession and towards realistic ways that social work could reposition itself as a progressive profession.

#SocialWorkSoWhite

“…Upon first glance the social work profession appears to be based upon specialized knowledge and a commitment to social justice, but the actually relies on authority and power (Gambrill, 2001). Scholars posit that in actuality very little evidence exists to support the social work profession's supposed dedication to radical social change and structural transformation (Brady et al, 2019). Social work claims to originate from powerful social movements throughout time (Reisch, 2013 as cited by Brady et al, 2019); however, scholars have begun to delineate the following pattern regarding the social work profession's actual involvement with social movements: As new social movements emerge, the field of social work begins to reject the social movement, including its leaders, members, and goals (Brady et al, 2019).…”

“…Scholars posit that in actuality very little evidence exists to support the social work profession's supposed dedication to radical social change and structural transformation (Brady et al, 2019). Social work claims to originate from powerful social movements throughout time (Reisch, 2013 as cited by Brady et al, 2019); however, scholars have begun to delineate the following pattern regarding the social work profession's actual involvement with social movements: As new social movements emerge, the field of social work begins to reject the social movement, including its leaders, members, and goals (Brady et al, 2019). Soon after, social work begins to lionize the social movement's ideas, embracing its leaders, members, and goals, and attaches itself to its legacy (Brady et al, 2019).…”

“…Social work claims to originate from powerful social movements throughout time (Reisch, 2013 as cited by Brady et al, 2019); however, scholars have begun to delineate the following pattern regarding the social work profession's actual involvement with social movements: As new social movements emerge, the field of social work begins to reject the social movement, including its leaders, members, and goals (Brady et al, 2019). Soon after, social work begins to lionize the social movement's ideas, embracing its leaders, members, and goals, and attaches itself to its legacy (Brady et al, 2019). Finally social work uses the movements' influential ideas and methods in order to co-opt any victories and subsequent icons for the credit of social work, not the social movement itself (Brady et al, 2019).…”

“…Soon after, social work begins to lionize the social movement's ideas, embracing its leaders, members, and goals, and attaches itself to its legacy (Brady et al, 2019). Finally social work uses the movements' influential ideas and methods in order to co-opt any victories and subsequent icons for the credit of social work, not the social movement itself (Brady et al, 2019). In other words, the social work profession opposes social movements as they emerge, and often will support them as they become successful as a means to attach the profession to its victories and leaders, without giving full credit to the movement itself.…”

“…Social work has an extensive history of complicity, carrying out the government's agenda and enforcing social control, from segregated settlement houses and social services; the removal, relocation, and genocide against Indigenous communities; the incarceration of Japanese Americans; and the ongoing state-sanctioned violence against Black and Brown communities (Brady et al, 2019;National Association of Social Workers [NASW], 2021;Tang Yan et al, 2021). Social work has been historically influenced by Christianity, the doctrinal authority which upholds and justifies white supremacy (Dyson et al, 2020), and deficit-based thinking (Brady et al, 2019). Early social work organizations were segregated, anti-Native, and decidedly Christian, with services primarily delivered through the church (Brady et al, 2019).…”