The Opposition

Area of Science:

• Social Work
• Sociology
• Critical Theory

Background:

• Traditional social work often overlooks historical and structural factors contributing to inequity.
• Existing theoretical and treatment models inadequately address the root causes of social problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and define the principles of radical social work.
• To highlight radical social work's opposition to oppressive socio-structural forces.
• To advocate for transformative, anti-oppressive frameworks in social work practice.

Main Methods:

• Adopting transformative and anti-oppressive frameworks.
• Acknowledging the link between macro forces and micro consequences.
• Critically analyzing socio-political processes influencing individual experiences.

Main Results:

• Radical social work makes invisible social-ecological factors, such as institutionalized white privilege, visible.
• It transforms systems to support individuals, countering the reinforcement of marginalized roles.
• It fosters transformative potential in both social workers and those they serve.

Conclusions:

• Radical social work offers a vital alternative to conventional approaches by directly confronting systemic oppression.
• This approach empowers individuals and communities by challenging and transforming the structures that perpetuate inequality.