Anti-Oppressive Practice
The complex nature of oppression is witnessed in the lives of people who are
marginalised in this society. Social work practitioners have a moral, ethical and
legal responsibility to challenge inequality and disadvantage. A multidisciplined
framework, informed by anti-oppressive principles, provides a tool to understand
and respond to the complexity of oppression. Anti-oppressive practice is a
dynamic process based on the changing patterns of social relations. It is,
therefore, important that a definition is informed by research within academic
institutions, practitioner research and the views of service users (Burke and
Harrison, ). Clifford (1995) uses the term to indicate an explicit evaluative
position that constructs social dimensions as matters of broad social structure, at
the same time as being personal and organisational issues. It looks at the use
and abuse of power not only in relation to individual or organisational behaviour,
which may be overtly, covertly, or indirectly racist, classist, sexist but also in
relation to broader social structures such as health, educational, political and
economic, media and cultural systems and their routine provision of services and
rewards for powerful groups at local, national and international levels. These
factors impinge on people’s life stories in unique ways that have to be
understood in their socio-historical complexity. The use and abuse of power
within relationships on personal, family, community, organisational and
structural levels. These levels are not mutually exclusive – they are
interconnected, shaping and determining social reality.
Clifford (1995) formulated anti-oppressive principles which provide the
foundation for a social work assessment that is theorised and empowering.
Social differences arise because of disparities of power between the
dominant and dominated social groups. The major divisions are described
in terms of race, gender, class, sexual preference, disability and age.
Other differences, such as religion, region, mental health and single
parenthood, exist and interact with the major divisions, making the
understanding and experience of oppression a complex matter.
Linking personal and political personal biographies are placed within a
wider social context and the individual’s life situation is views in relation to
social systems such as the family, peer groups, organisations and
communities.
The complex nature of oppression is witnessed in the lives of people who are
marginalised in this society. Social work practitioners have a moral, ethical and
legal responsibility to challenge inequality and disadvantage. A multidisciplined
framework, informed by anti-oppressive principles, provides a tool to understand
and respond to the complexity of oppression. Anti-oppressive practice is a
dynamic process based on the changing patterns of social relations. It is,
therefore, important that a definition is informed by research within academic
institutions, practitioner research and the views of service users (Burke and
Harrison, ). Clifford (1995) uses the term to indicate an explicit evaluative
position that constructs social dimensions as matters of broad social structure, at
the same time as being personal and organisational issues. It looks at the use
and abuse of power not only in relation to individual or organisational behaviour,
which may be overtly, covertly, or indirectly racist, classist, sexist but also in
relation to broader social structures such as health, educational, political and
economic, media and cultural systems and their routine provision of services and
rewards for powerful groups at local, national and international levels. These
factors impinge on people’s life stories in unique ways that have to be
understood in their socio-historical complexity. The use and abuse of power
within relationships on personal, family, community, organisational and
structural levels. These levels are not mutually exclusive – they are
interconnected, shaping and determining social reality.
Clifford (1995) formulated anti-oppressive principles which provide the
foundation for a social work assessment that is theorised and empowering.
Social differences arise because of disparities of power between the
dominant and dominated social groups. The major divisions are described
in terms of race, gender, class, sexual preference, disability and age.
Other differences, such as religion, region, mental health and single
parenthood, exist and interact with the major divisions, making the
understanding and experience of oppression a complex matter.
Linking personal and political personal biographies are placed within a
wider social context and the individual’s life situation is views in relation to
social systems such as the family, peer groups, organisations and
communities.
