SPRn5025 Intersectionality and Social Work

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Magda Tesárková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Magda Tesárková, Ph.D.
Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Magda Tesárková, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course has three main goals:
The first goal is to gain theoretical knowledge of gender and feminist theory and its role in developing social policy and social work theory and practice. Attention will also be given to the intersectionality approach and critical social work theory, both useful for developing gender-sensitive social work practice that responds to the clients' specific needs and enables understanding of their problems on a structural rather than only individual level. Although gender here is seen as a crucial structural characteristic, attention will also be given to other social categories such as class, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and the role they play in different situations and settings as a basis of advantage as well as oppression. Within gender theory, more attention is given to women as a specific group. However, the course also focuses on men, both in the role of social workers and clients with specific issues and needs that should be addressed.
The second goal of the course is to learn how gender theory can be practically applied to understanding specific issues such as criminality, domestic violence, homelessness, drug use, involvement in the sex industry, parenting, etc. This goal will be fulfilled especially through seminars where students will discuss principles of gender-sensitive social work practice with various target groups of clients and in various forms of social services and institutions.
The third goal of the course is to develop and improve the writing skills of short academic papers, which will be fulfilled through seminar assignments and final paper. The learning process will be strengthened by feedback from the teacher and the students themselves at the seminars.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- identify and critically reflect on feminist and gender theory contribution to contemporary social work theory and practice;
- understand the role that gender and other social categories play in social work practice;
- employ the gender perspective in social work practice with clients and in social work organizations;
- employ gender perspective in their further studies;
- write short academic papers using proper form, structure, and quotation standards.
Syllabus
  • 1) Gender theory and its influence on social policy and social work
  • 2) Gender-sensitive social work
  • 3) Gender perspectives in social work practice - specific issues and target groups (social work with homeless women, violence against men from a gender perspective, social work and LGBTQ, social work with female drug users, feminist participatory action research, etc.)
Literature
    required literature
  • WENDT, Sarah a MOULDING, Nicole (ed.). Contemporary feminisms in social work practice. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis group, 2016. ISBN 978-1-138-02570-7.
  • Wahab, S., Anderson-Nathe, B., & Gringeri, C. E. (Eds.). (2015). Feminisms in social work research: promise and possibilities for justice-based knowledge. Routledge.
  • Lykke, N. (2010). Feminist studies: a guide to intersectional theory, methodology and writing. Routledge.
  • Hill Collins, P., & Bilge, S. (2016). Intersectionality. Polity Press.
  • Adams, R. (2008). Empowerment, participation, and social work (4th ed). Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Fawcett, B. (Ed.). (2000). Practice and research in social work: postmodern feminist perspectives. Routledge.
    recommended literature
  • McNiff, J. (2013). Action research: principles and practice (3rd edition). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Tarrant, S. (Ed.). (2008). Men speak out: views on gender, sex and power. Routledge/Taylor & Francis.
  • Healy, K. (2000). Social work practices: contemporary perspectives on change. SAGE Publications.
  • Woodward, K. (2011). The short guide to gender. Bristol: Policy.
  • Currid-Halkett, E. (2017). The sum of small things: a theory of the aspirational class. Princeton University Press.
  • Criado-Perez, C. (2020). Invisible women: exposing data bias in a world designed for women. London: Vintage.
  • Aldridge, J. (2016). Participatory research: working with vulnerable groups in research and practice. Policy Press.
  • Zufferey, C. (2017). Homelessness and social work: an intersectional approach. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Teaching methods
The goals and learning outcomes of the course will be fulfilled through lectures, seminars (students participate in discussions and group projects), writing seminar assignments, and a final paper based on students´ reading of the compulsory course literature. Students receive feedback from the teacher and other students at the seminar for all written documents.
Assessment methods
Attendance:
Attendance at the lectures and seminars is compulsory. One absence per semester is allowed.
Seminar Assignments:
Before each seminar, you should write a short assignment briefly addressing several questions, drawing on the compulsory literature for that seminar.
Compensation:
If you miss a seminar or a lecture for the second time or upload your seminar assignment late, please talk to the teacher about the form of compensation for your absence or late submission.
Grading:
40% of the grade will be based on your active participation in the lectures and seminars. 60% of the grade will be based on the quality of your seminar assignments and final paper.
Language of instruction
Czech
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