The Postmodern "˜Turn' in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and Equality

Diversity and demands for equality have challenged fixed notions of identity amongst the diverse populations of Europe. This development has prompted discourses about the significance of fluidity and multiplicity in identities that have given prominence to postmodern theories in the profession o...

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Main Author: Lena Dominelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Social Work & Society 2007-02-01
Series:Social Work and Society
Online Access:http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1293
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author Lena Dominelli
author_facet Lena Dominelli
author_sort Lena Dominelli
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description Diversity and demands for equality have challenged fixed notions of identity amongst the diverse populations of Europe. This development has prompted discourses about the significance of fluidity and multiplicity in identities that have given prominence to postmodern theories in the profession of social work. A number of social work educators have contributed to the ensuing debates. Walter Lorenz's work has contributed substantially to developments on this front by:highlighting the dangers of essentialising fixed identities in professional practice, referring to the failure of social workers to live up to professional values and ideals in the Nazi attack on Jews and others who were different from the Aryan norms that Hitler's regime sought to impose; arguing for racial equality in multicultural Europe; and ensuring that social work theories and practice engaged with innovations in the social sciences more generally to improve the profession's research, theoretical and practice bases. In this article, I engage with crucial debates that have shaped the profession during the post-war period, honouring Walter Lorenz's contributions to them in the process.
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spelling doaj-art-90664668e28f4d529e73d5b26aa9e7c92025-08-20T02:47:06ZengSocial Work & SocietySocial Work and Society1613-89532007-02-0153The Postmodern "˜Turn' in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and EqualityLena DominelliDiversity and demands for equality have challenged fixed notions of identity amongst the diverse populations of Europe. This development has prompted discourses about the significance of fluidity and multiplicity in identities that have given prominence to postmodern theories in the profession of social work. A number of social work educators have contributed to the ensuing debates. Walter Lorenz's work has contributed substantially to developments on this front by:highlighting the dangers of essentialising fixed identities in professional practice, referring to the failure of social workers to live up to professional values and ideals in the Nazi attack on Jews and others who were different from the Aryan norms that Hitler's regime sought to impose; arguing for racial equality in multicultural Europe; and ensuring that social work theories and practice engaged with innovations in the social sciences more generally to improve the profession's research, theoretical and practice bases. In this article, I engage with crucial debates that have shaped the profession during the post-war period, honouring Walter Lorenz's contributions to them in the process.http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1293
spellingShingle Lena Dominelli
The Postmodern "˜Turn' in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and Equality
Social Work and Society
title The Postmodern "˜Turn' in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and Equality
title_full The Postmodern "˜Turn' in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and Equality
title_fullStr The Postmodern "˜Turn' in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and Equality
title_full_unstemmed The Postmodern "˜Turn' in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and Equality
title_short The Postmodern "˜Turn' in Social Work: The Challenges of Identity and Equality
title_sort postmodern turn in social work the challenges of identity and equality
url http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1293
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