Empowering Voices, Bridging Worlds: The Potential of Photovoice for Empowerment, Reflection, and Connection in Diverse Societies

The present article analyzes the potential of the photovoice method in diverse societies. Photovoice is a community-based participatory action research method with a photojournalistic, socio-critical approach that prioritizes the lived experiences of people belonging to marginalized communities. In...

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Main Authors: Carmen S. Lienen, Andrea Monica Frisch, Agostino Mazziotta, Anette Rohmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Social Work & Society 2025-04-01
Series:Social Work and Society
Subjects:
Online Access:http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1746
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author Carmen S. Lienen
Andrea Monica Frisch
Agostino Mazziotta
Anette Rohmann
author_facet Carmen S. Lienen
Andrea Monica Frisch
Agostino Mazziotta
Anette Rohmann
author_sort Carmen S. Lienen
collection DOAJ
description The present article analyzes the potential of the photovoice method in diverse societies. Photovoice is a community-based participatory action research method with a photojournalistic, socio-critical approach that prioritizes the lived experiences of people belonging to marginalized communities. In photovoice projects, people take photos of their lives to identify community struggles and strengths, which are then collectively discussed and used to facilitate positive social change at the policy level. The article explores to what extent photovoice can benefit diversity within social work by I) supporting the understanding and empowerment of clients through a lifeworld orientation, II) enhancing social workers' self-reflection on their own identity, role, and mission, and III) strengthening client-provider relationships. Limitations, possible non-intended effects, and potential ethical challenges of the implementation of photovoice in diverse societies are discussed. We conclude the article with practical recommendations on how social workers can incorporate photovoice into their professional practice.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1613-8953
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Social Work & Society
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series Social Work and Society
spelling doaj-art-71a01fe6633f44eb8d5c43c8b34498412025-08-20T03:31:55ZengSocial Work & SocietySocial Work and Society1613-89532025-04-01222Empowering Voices, Bridging Worlds: The Potential of Photovoice for Empowerment, Reflection, and Connection in Diverse SocietiesCarmen S. LienenAndrea Monica FrischAgostino MazziottaAnette RohmannThe present article analyzes the potential of the photovoice method in diverse societies. Photovoice is a community-based participatory action research method with a photojournalistic, socio-critical approach that prioritizes the lived experiences of people belonging to marginalized communities. In photovoice projects, people take photos of their lives to identify community struggles and strengths, which are then collectively discussed and used to facilitate positive social change at the policy level. The article explores to what extent photovoice can benefit diversity within social work by I) supporting the understanding and empowerment of clients through a lifeworld orientation, II) enhancing social workers' self-reflection on their own identity, role, and mission, and III) strengthening client-provider relationships. Limitations, possible non-intended effects, and potential ethical challenges of the implementation of photovoice in diverse societies are discussed. We conclude the article with practical recommendations on how social workers can incorporate photovoice into their professional practice. http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1746Photovoicediversityintersectionalitysocial justicelifeworld orientation
spellingShingle Carmen S. Lienen
Andrea Monica Frisch
Agostino Mazziotta
Anette Rohmann
Empowering Voices, Bridging Worlds: The Potential of Photovoice for Empowerment, Reflection, and Connection in Diverse Societies
Social Work and Society
Photovoice
diversity
intersectionality
social justice
lifeworld orientation
title Empowering Voices, Bridging Worlds: The Potential of Photovoice for Empowerment, Reflection, and Connection in Diverse Societies
title_full Empowering Voices, Bridging Worlds: The Potential of Photovoice for Empowerment, Reflection, and Connection in Diverse Societies
title_fullStr Empowering Voices, Bridging Worlds: The Potential of Photovoice for Empowerment, Reflection, and Connection in Diverse Societies
title_full_unstemmed Empowering Voices, Bridging Worlds: The Potential of Photovoice for Empowerment, Reflection, and Connection in Diverse Societies
title_short Empowering Voices, Bridging Worlds: The Potential of Photovoice for Empowerment, Reflection, and Connection in Diverse Societies
title_sort empowering voices bridging worlds the potential of photovoice for empowerment reflection and connection in diverse societies
topic Photovoice
diversity
intersectionality
social justice
lifeworld orientation
url http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1746
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AT agostinomazziotta empoweringvoicesbridgingworldsthepotentialofphotovoiceforempowermentreflectionandconnectionindiversesocieties
AT anetterohmann empoweringvoicesbridgingworldsthepotentialofphotovoiceforempowermentreflectionandconnectionindiversesocieties