Title: Feminist Social Work Practice | Encyclopedia of Social Work
Headings: Feminist Social Work Practice
Feminist Social Work Practice
Summary
Keywords
Subjects
Updated in this version
Defining Feminism and Its Scope
Table 1. Feminist Movement Waves and Primary Foci from the United States
Table 2. Perspectives, Primary Causes of Women’s Inequality and Oppression, and Examples of Strategies from Second Wave Feminism
Core Principles of Feminist Social Work
Current and Future Trends in Feminist Practice
Links to Digital Materials
References
Other Resources

Content: Keywords
feminism
women’s movements
empowerment
social work practice
gender issues
Subjects
Clinical and Direct Practice
Gender and Sexuality
Macro Practice
Race, Ethnicity, and Culture
Updated in this version
References and content updated to reflect recent developments. Feminist social work practice broadly encompasses intervention knowledge and skills based within and informed by the political and social analyses of the various women’s movements in the United States and abroad. Feminism provides a critical lens through which to understand, and then work to ameliorate the concerns and issues, primarily of women and those for whom they care. Feminist theories suggest frameworks for analyzing gendered roles and identities, which is particularly important for comprehending and addressing the challenges faced by individuals and communities who transgress traditional expectations. Feminist movements intersect and partner with other social movements, engaging in cooperative strategies to address human rights, environmental justice, anti-racism initiatives, LGBTQA+ rights, and other collective actions that pursue social justice. These insights, processes, and outcomes are the building blocks for feminist social work, and they also influence other practice paradigms. Defining Feminism and Its Scope
Although there is considerable debate within feminist scholarship as to what constitutes feminism, there are several themes common across most definitions. First, it is assumed that, collectively, women have been and continue to be denied societal power and privilege because of gender norms, roles, responsibilities, and assumptions. Second, it is structural inequality that shapes the position and standing of women, not personal actions or individual circumstances. Third, it is inherently activist in orientation, concerned with “challenging women’s subordinate (or disadvantaged) status in the society at large and in their own community” (Gluck, 1998, p. 34;