Subject Area: Social Work

This course considers the context of social work in a multi-ethnic and diverse society. First, identity is examined as having biographical, psychological, cultural, social and economic dimensions. Second, the course considers the ways in which a multi-ethnic and diverse society creates challenges for social work goals and methods. This part of the course introduces the practice and theory of “anti-oppressive” social work. Third, the course explores the multiplicity of ways in which diversity and belonging are to be understood (for example in terms of age, disability, gender, sexuality, health and ethnicity) and considers the implications for social work of the intersections between identities and issues of marginality.