Building on Women's Strengths: A Social Work Agenda for the Twenty-First Century

343 Pages·2001·1.15 MB·English

by  K Jean Peterson

K. Jean Peterson, DSW
Alice A. Lieberman, PhD
Editors
Building on Women’s
Strengths
A Social Work Agenda
for the Twenty-First Century
Second Edition
Pre-publication Overview of Policy Issues for Women
andWomen’sMentalHealth:Twenti-
REVIEWS,
eth-CenturyRealities,Twenty-FirstCen-
COMMENTARIES,
tury Challenges by Margaret Severson.
EVALUATIONS . . . They highlight the relevant issues for
women historically, as well as in the
current social climate, and suggest
feministinterventionsforsocialchange.
“This second edition of Building on Social work students, educators,
Women’s Strengths: A Social Work practitioners,andresearcherswillbene-
Agenda for the Twenty-First Century is a fitfromthewealthofinformationabout
testimonial not only to the memory of women’s lives and women’s needs as
Liane Davis, but to all feminist social consumersofsocialservices.Thisbook
workers who have worked hard to would be a wonderful reader for
deliver strengths-based, feminist social courses in social work practice and so-
work services to women. The updated cialwelfarepolicy,aswellascourseson
chapters maintain the original focus of women’sissuesanddiversity.”
thebookandprovideuswithnewper-
spectives and directions that are rele-
Eileen F. Levy, PhD
vant to our work in the new millen- Associate Professor,
nium.EspeciallyinterestingareDorothy School of Social Work,
Miller’s chapter on True Equality: An San Francisco State University
More pre-publication
REVIEWS, COMMENTARIES, EVALUATIONS . . .
“The new edition of Building on “Eachofthesechaptersengagesour
Women’s Strengths succeeds in its hearts and minds about the sti-
mission to call attention to the ongoing fling and dispiriting conditions that
need for a social work agenda for many women must confront daily. The
women’sissues.ThechaptersbyDavis, authorspullnopunchesaboutthereal-
Weick, Simon, and Laird, retained from
ity of domination and discrimination
the first edition, are classic works in
against women in child welfare, in the
identifyingtheissuesandplacingthem
correctional system, in welfare reform,
withintheintellectual,professional,and
andinmentalhealth,historicallyandin
academic discourse. Chapters on spe-
the present. Violence against women,
cific areas of social policy, such as the
the pressures of poverty, the struggles
onebyHutchisonandCharlesworthon
childwelfarepolicies,bringtolightim- of lesbian women, and the battles of
portantanalysisofwaysinwhichpolicy womenofcolorarerecountedwithun-
in disparate areas affects the lives of stinting honesty.
women—and the disparate ways in But,soimportantinpolicyandprac-
whichpoliciesaffectdifferentgroupsof tice, in institutional and interpersonal
women.Thebookasawholewouldbe relationships, we are made aware of
anindispensableresourceforcoursesin the resiliencies and reserves, the re-
women’sissues,socialworkpracticewith sources and competencies of women,
women, and practice from a strengths many forged in their struggles for
perspective. Individual chapters would equality, for their own voice, and for
make excellent resources for courses in the hearing of their stories. Social
workersare,inmostofthesechapters,
substantive areas (e.g., mental health,
given sound counsel about how to use
childwelfare,corrections),practice,and
thesestrengthstohelpwomenachievea
policy. Probably the greatest tribute to
betterqualityoflife,andtofightthebat-
thelifeandworkofLianeV.Davisisthe
tles and surmount the hurdles that
melding of women’s stories—poor
havebeenplacedintheirway.Theau-
women, women of color, women who
thorsrepresentsomeofthebestoffem-
have been incarcerated, mothers, and
inist writing and practice. This book
foster mothers—with the multiple ana-
should be a handbook for all social
lyticalperspectivesrepresentedbythese
workersandotherhelpingprofession-
chapters.”
als, men and women alike.”
Theresa J. Early, PhD, MSW Dennis Saleebey, DSW
Assistant Professor, Professor,
College of Social Work, School of Social Welfare,
Ohio State University, University of Kansas,
Columbus Lawrence
More pre-publication
REVIEWS, COMMENTARIES, EVALUATIONS . . .
“Building on Women’s Strengths “The second edition of Building on
presentsarichandchallengingcol- Women’s Strengths: A Social Work
lectionofessaysthatreexaminesocialpol- Agenda for the Twenty-First Century up-
icyandsocialworkpracticeinrelationto datesandreaffirmstheimportantwork
the lives and welfare of women. In the begun in the first edition. Reading this
contextofthegainsmadebythewomen’s bookonMother’sDayafternoon,Ifound
movementinrecentdecades,theauthors withinitaremarkablerefugeofhopefor
make visible the continuing oppressive all women. All the more notable for its
andconstrainingdiscoursesaboutwomen less than sanguine content, this volume
thatshapecontemporarypolicyandprac- reflectsthestoriesofverystrongwomen
tice. who know the ins and outs of poverty,
Analysisofpolicyassumptionsand violence, incarceration, homophobia, pri-
recommendationsforpracticeatevery vilege,racism,andthegeneral`irritants’
level point the way to challenging un- thatcompromisethequalityofallofour
justpoliciesandprograms,tofocusing
lives,individuallyandcollectively.These
onwomen’sstrengths,andtotheirem-
are not bitter voices; they do, however,
powerment and emancipation.
clearly call for a continued women’s
This book is essential reading for
agenda for social work. From Dorothy
studentsandpractitioners,particularly
Miller’sassertionthat`violenceisn’tin-
as our nation continues to dismantle
evitable,’totheechoofJoanLaird’slast-
the social welfare system. It demon-
ing summons to `take back the dis-
strates that the oppression of women
remains built into our social and eco- course,’ this collection’s principled, un-
nomicpolicies,andthatthosemostvul- sentimentalstrengthofdirectionwillhelp
nerable as the ethic of care is aban- to nourish a context of energy, resolve,
donedandevendisparagedarewomen andoptimismforanyonecommittedto
and children.” socialactiononbehalfofwomen.”
Ann Hartman, DSW Marty Dewees, PhD, LICSW
Visiting Distinguished Professor, Assistant Professor,
Fordham University Graduate School Department of Social Work,
of Social Science, University of Vermont,
New York City Burlington
More pre-publication
REVIEWS, COMMENTARIES, EVALUATIONS . . .
“LianewasamentortomeandasI AsIfinishedthebookIthought`Liane
readthissecondeditionIcontin- must be smiling in feminist heaven at
ued to feel her influence as the book’s seeing this work.’ Instantly came the
writers touched me with their words. skeptic’s question, `What would femi-
She lives on in this edition as she con- nistheavenlooklikeanyway?’Forsure
tinues,throughthepagesofthisbook, itwouldbefreeofallformsofoppres-
tochallengeusaswomensocialwork- sionandexploitation,anditwouldbea
erstostrivetohearourclientsandour- place of continued discovery and
selvesbetterandtotellourstories.This growth in understanding and vision.
edition brings social work issues into This book, with its expanded analysis
the twenty-first century and allows us
and content, furthers both standards.
aspractitionerstomoveonwithchanges
This is an excellent `cross-cutting’
thatneedtobemadeforourclientsand book that could be used as a supple-
ourselves. mental text in all areas of the social
WeatSaintLouisUniversitywilluse work and human services curricula or
this text for our feminist social work as a primary text in women’s issues
practice class. The new chapters really and feminist practice courses. Being
speak to the issues that we strive to both accessible and comprehensive in
workoninthecourse.” itsscrutinyofpoweranditscontexts,it
isalsowonderfulreadingforpractitio-
Susan C. Tebb, PhD
ners and people in client status. Ulti-
Dean, School of Social Service,
mately, the book leaves us with direc-
Saint Louis University,
Missouri tionandhopeformakingthatfeminist
heavenhappenonearth.Isthatnotthe
feministagendaforthetwenty-firstcen-
tury?”
Mary Bricker-Jenkins, PhD
“K. Jean Peterson, Liane’s dear
Professor,
friendandcolleague,hasbrought Temple University School
together a fine group of writers to cre- of Social Administration,
ate a book that honors Liane’s legacy. Philadelphia
NOTES FOR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIANS
AND LIBRARY USERS
This is an original book title published by The Haworth Social Work
Practice Press, an imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc. Unless other-
wisenotedinspecificchapterswithattribution,materialsinthisbook
have not been previously published elsewhere in any format or lan-
guage.
CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION NOTES
All books published by The Haworth Press, Inc. and its imprints are
printedoncertifiedpHneutral,acidfreebookgradepaper.Thispaper
meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for
Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Material,
ANSI Z39.48-1984.

Building on Women’s
Strengths
A Social Work Agenda
for the Twenty-First Century
Second Edition

Building on Women’s
Strengths
A Social Work Agenda
for the Twenty-First Century
Second Edition
K. Jean Peterson, DSW
Alice A. Lieberman, PhD
Editors
The Haworth Social Work Practice Press
An Imprint of The Haworth Press, Inc.
New York • London • Oxford