Social work practice with men at risk

364 Pages·2010·1.656 MB·English

by  Furman, Rich

Social Work Practice
With Men at riSk

Social Work Practice
with Men at Risk
Rich Furman
   columbia university press new York
Columbia University Press
Publishers Since 1893
New York Chichester, West Sussex
Copyright © 2010 Columbia University Press
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Furman, Rich.
Social work practice with men at risk / Rich Furman.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-231-14380-6 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-231-14381-3 (pbk. : alk. paper)
— ISBN 978-0-231-51298-5 (ebook)
1. Social work with men. 2. Men—Services for. 3. Men—Social conditions. I. Title.
HV1441.4.F87 2010
362.8—dc22

2009048026
Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper.
This book is printed on paper with recycled content.
Printed in the United States of America
c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
References to Internet Web sites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing.
Neither the author nor Columbia University Press is responsible for URLs
that may have expired or changed siince the manuscript was prepared.
To my friends—
the oars that steady the boat of self in an often stormy sea—
and my boys, Slick and Brownie,
for the warmth and comfort that made this easier.

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
1 Introduction 1
Part I: Understanding the Worlds of Men
2 Men’s Psychosocial Health in a Global Era 29
3 Conceptions of Masculinity and the Development of Men 49
4 The Relationships of Men 73
5 Theoretical and Practice Guidelines 91
Part II: Men at risk: Problems and Solutions
6 Men and Violence 127
7 Workers at Risk 149
8 Warriors at Risk 165
9 The Physical Health of Men 179
10 Men and Mental Illness 199
11 Older Men at Risk 220
12 Diverse Men at Risk 240
13 Men, Compulsive Disorders, and Addictions 257
viii | contentS
14 Conclusion: What Is Right About Men? 277
Appendix: Resources 295
References 309
Index 347
Acknowledgments
The things that we’re afraid of are gonna
show us what we’re made of in the end.
—Blessed Union of Souls, Hey Leonardo
Aquí, no se rinde nadie.
—Augusto César Sandino
Throughout the years, many men have generously mentored me on what it
means to be a social worker, a professor, and, most important, a man. I am
grateful to them for their love, support, and kindness, and for caring enough
to sometimes kick me in the rear. I have needed it all. Some of these wonder-
ful men include Jerry Finn, Gary Delurey, Mark Whiteman, Kip Wyle, Aram
Terzian, David Ishisaki, Tony Bruno, Bob Jackson, and Roger Roffman. Also
many thanks to the friends with whom I have discussed some of the core con-
cepts developed in this text, most notably Mark Sokol and Ben Gedalecia.
I am especially grateful to Lauren Dockett, social work editor at Columbia
University Press. She understood my vision for this project from the begin-
ning and pushed me throughout to make this the best book it could be. And,
as always, my thanks go to my biggest cheerleader, my wonderful wife, Jill. You
are, and will always be, my heart.