Exhaustion and possibility. The wor(l)dlyness of social work in (G)local environment worlds during a pandemic

Abstract

Exhaustion is not about being tired. It is an intense feeling of restlessness, of insomnia, and awakening when I ask myself: have I exhausted all that is possible? Such a state of restlessness and wakefulness represents a turning point for having enough, and opens for new possibilities to act for social change. This reflexive essay departs from the notion that the language of exhaustion offers a wor(l)dly possibility for social work(ers) to engage in critical analytical reflexivity about our locations of power from the outset of our (g)local environment worlds. The aim is to trace the transformative possibilities of social change in social work practice through the literature of exhaustion (eg. Frichot, 2019 ; Spooner, 2011 ). The methodology is based on uses of narrative life writing genres such as poetry, written and photographic diary entrances between the 4th of April and 4th of June. The essay shows how tracing exhaustion during the pandemic, visualises a multiplicity of forms of oppression and privilege, an increasing attention and relationship to things, and border movements and languages. I suggest that social work replace the often-used terminology of social problems with exhaustive lists to address structural forms of racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, which has been further visualized through death, illness, violence, and poverty during the pandemic. I argue that the language of exhaustion is useful for reflexivity and action in social work practice through the way it contributes to intensified awareness, attention, engagement, listening, and agency to create social justice.

“Conscious compassion”: A co-created poetic representation of social workers’ experiences with compassion

“…Previous scholarship has established that poetry can be used throughout many steps in the research process (Prendergast, 2009; Szto et al, 2005). For example, some scholars have used it as a means to reflexively make sense of their research experience (Faulkner, 2017; Livholts, 2021; Prendergast, 2015; Shaw, 2020). Others have used it to collect data through crafting relational poems (Gold, 2013; Taiwo, 2013; Witkin, 2007), ethnographic explorations (Carroll et al, 2011; Maynard and Cahnmann-Taylor, 2010) and autoethnography (Gallardo et al, 2009).…”

Finding beauty in the beast: Pandemic meditations and the humanities in social work

“…For example, she seriously contemplates a green bench-which beckons passersby to sit-with its inscribed message imploring them to breath and listen to the silence. Alternatively she noticed, "The sun beams broke through the water movements, created shadow patterns on the vaulted concrete passage under the bridge" leading to a mediation on the rust and rot of exhausted things (Livholts, 2021). Captured in poems, narrative, and photographic images, the diary explores the transformative possibility "of social change in social work practice through the literature of exhaustion.…”