MSWPG7211 SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH - ASSESSMENT TASK 1 LITERATURE REVIEW (Part 1 Annotated Bibliography)

What are the different opressed Conditions faced by Social Workers? 

Barbara Bryant Solomon (1987) Empowerment: Social work in oppressed communities, Journal of Social Work Practice: Psychotherapeutic Approaches in Health, Welfare and the Community, 2:4, 79-91, DOI: 10.1080/02650538708414984

The purpose of this work is to highlight the uselessness and insensitivity of the intrapsychic models of social work which are based on the assumption that the psychosocial problems faced by blacks are because of their internal factors. Instead, this research aims to establish that the external factors and oppressive social institutions are equally responsible for the deplorable condition of this minority group. A collaboration was formed between churches and family help agencies in order to facilitate counselling based on empowerment model. The participants were mainly poor blacks who were suffering from serious mental disorders. This research has added value to the existing literature by incorporating the element of sensitivity in social work. Hence, it is extremely significant for future research projects.

Evans-Campbell, T. (2008). Historical Trauma in American Indian/Native Alaska Communities. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(3), 316–338. doi:10.1177/0886260507312290

This research paper uncovers the experience of historical trauma in Native American community. The members of this community constantly face traumatic incidents since childhood and till the time they reach adulthood, all the traumatic events aggregate and define their future experiences. Therefore, this research which focuses specifically on native Americans has an important lesson for healthcare professionals and social workers. When they encounter Native Americans, they should deal with them taking into consideration the baggage of historical trauma that they unwillingly carry along. This article is important because no previous article has particularly addressed this issue. Therefore, it has significant underpinnings for future researchers who wish to further explore this area within social work research.

Gil, D. G. (2013). Confronting Injustice and Oppression: Concepts and Strategies for Social Workers. Columbia University Press.

This book explains how all sorts of injustices and oppressions mostly mark the environment in which the social workers provide their services. Therefore, one of the main goals of social workers should be to eliminate unjust and oppressive practices by facilitating social change. It is a great guide book for social workers as it lists down numerous useful strategies that social workers can utilize to make this world a better place and act as agents of social change. The writer has demonstrated thorough understanding of the issue and has provided a holistic approach to the solutions at hand. These characteristics make it a great guidebook for people who are in the profession of social work and are often frustrated by all the unjust and oppressive deeds they witness on daily basis.

Graham, M. J. (1999). The African-centered worldview: Developing a paradigm for social work. The British Journal of Social Work, 29(2), 251-267.

The purpose of this research is to challenge ethnocentric nature of existing social work research focused on blacks residing in Britain. The author argues that in the world where plurality is being valued, ethnocentric ideas need to be replaced by an alternative paradigm which is contextualized in the historical reality of black people. This research makes an important contribution in the field of social work by bringing in the racial dynamics and challenging research paradigm which considers that experiences of people all across the world are homogeneous. In doing so, it calls for accepting and celebrating plurality of experiences.