Deconstructing Oppression in India: A Case for Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice

Oppression is largely understood as the systematic discrimination and exploitation of people based on their membership in a marginalized group. The oppressive dynamics are pervasive and function on various levels, from the interpersonal to the larger oppressive economic and political structures. Ind...

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Main Authors: Andleeb Rather, Midhat Zaidi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Social Workers in India 2023-04-01
Series:Journal of Social Work Education and Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jswep.in/index.php/jswep/article/view/140
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author Andleeb Rather
Midhat Zaidi
author_facet Andleeb Rather
Midhat Zaidi
author_sort Andleeb Rather
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description Oppression is largely understood as the systematic discrimination and exploitation of people based on their membership in a marginalized group. The oppressive dynamics are pervasive and function on various levels, from the interpersonal to the larger oppressive economic and political structures. India, like several other Asian countries, is afflicted with marginalization and social exclusion based on caste, religion, class and gender, fostering a system of widespread oppression. Social workers need to understand the dynamics of oppression to mitigate oppression at both micro and macro levels while simultaneously reevaluating and preventing their own complicity in perpetuating oppressive systems. Deriving from various radical social work approaches (anti-racist, feminist social work), the anti-oppressive framework offers a paradigm shift in professional social work. Anti-oppressive practice is emancipatory social work practice that aims to bring about structural and institutional changes and free people from vulnerabilities that current arrangements have imposed on them. The present paper explores the Anti-Oppressive approach to Social Work Practice within the Indian context. The paper argues that the Social Work profession must look beyond enhancing functioning and pursue the goal of social justice for all by confronting oppression.
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spelling doaj.art-a6653836568f40679816fb6302824a882024-08-24T22:54:57ZengSocial Workers in IndiaJournal of Social Work Education and Practice2456-20682023-04-0173Deconstructing Oppression in India: A Case for Anti-oppressive Social Work PracticeAndleeb Rather 0Midhat Zaidi 1Department of Social Work, Aligarh Muslim University, IndiaCentre for Jawaharlal Nehru Studies, Jamie Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, IndiaOppression is largely understood as the systematic discrimination and exploitation of people based on their membership in a marginalized group. The oppressive dynamics are pervasive and function on various levels, from the interpersonal to the larger oppressive economic and political structures. India, like several other Asian countries, is afflicted with marginalization and social exclusion based on caste, religion, class and gender, fostering a system of widespread oppression. Social workers need to understand the dynamics of oppression to mitigate oppression at both micro and macro levels while simultaneously reevaluating and preventing their own complicity in perpetuating oppressive systems. Deriving from various radical social work approaches (anti-racist, feminist social work), the anti-oppressive framework offers a paradigm shift in professional social work. Anti-oppressive practice is emancipatory social work practice that aims to bring about structural and institutional changes and free people from vulnerabilities that current arrangements have imposed on them. The present paper explores the Anti-Oppressive approach to Social Work Practice within the Indian context. The paper argues that the Social Work profession must look beyond enhancing functioning and pursue the goal of social justice for all by confronting oppression.http://jswep.in/index.php/jswep/article/view/140oppressionIndiasocial exclusionmarginalizationsocial justiceAnti-Oppressive practice
spellingShingle Andleeb Rather
Midhat Zaidi
Deconstructing Oppression in India: A Case for Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice
Journal of Social Work Education and Practice
oppression
India
social exclusion
marginalization
social justice
Anti-Oppressive practice
title Deconstructing Oppression in India: A Case for Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice
title_full Deconstructing Oppression in India: A Case for Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice
title_fullStr Deconstructing Oppression in India: A Case for Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice
title_full_unstemmed Deconstructing Oppression in India: A Case for Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice
title_short Deconstructing Oppression in India: A Case for Anti-oppressive Social Work Practice
title_sort deconstructing oppression in india a case for anti oppressive social work practice
topic oppression
India
social exclusion
marginalization
social justice
Anti-Oppressive practice
url http://jswep.in/index.php/jswep/article/view/140
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