How social is current social work: An analysis of the effect of professionalization on social workers’ role as advocates for social justice

University essay from Lunds universitet/Socialhögskolan; Lunds universitet/Master of Science in Development Studies; Lunds universitet/Graduate School

Abstract: This master thesis is an attempt to approach the issue of the lack of application of cause advocacy in modern social work practice. The research problem is framed in a way that historical roots of the commitment to social justice in the profession are presented with the further argumentation for the lack of this approach in contemporary social work. A qualitative study has been conducted to fulfill three main objectives of this study: to evaluate the current stage of cause advocacy in social work practice; to reveal how social workers perceive their role as advocates for social justice as well as to find out what obstacles prevent them from more active advocacy practices. The theory of functionally differentiated society has been applied during the data analysis process as well as for the further discussion. The final results from the analysis show that the dedication to the idea of social justice and the application of cause advocacy have a minor role in current social work practice. Instead modern social work practice is increasingly focusing on case management and has a more individualized focus on service provision. Moreover, the organizational restrictions together with the application of managerial principles and increased economization of social service provision restrict the possibilities for social workers to approach broader structural issues and to persuade social justice.

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