ERIC Number: EJ978354
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0884-1233
EISSN: N/A
The Construction of Social Class in Social Work Education: A Study of Introductory Textbooks
Strier, Roni; Feldman, Guy; Shdaimah, Corey
Journal of Teaching in Social Work, v32 n4 p406-420 2012
Social work introductory textbooks reflect myriad practical interests, pedagogical concerns, and theoretical considerations. However, they also present students with accepted views, dominant perspectives, and main discourses of knowledge. In light of this centrality, the present article examines the representation of the concept of "social class" in introductory textbooks as a way to look at the construction of the concept in social work education. Based on the content analysis study of 50 introductory textbooks, the article suggests that social work education has overlooked or even denied the relevance of social class. Class differences, as part of other categories of power such as race, ethnicity, and gender are crucial factors in explaining diversity and inequality. As social justice is one of the main premises of social work, the question of how to prepare students to deal with class issues as future practitioners seems to be very important, especially in light of increasing social class gaps. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Social Justice, Social Class, Textbooks, Content Analysis, Social Work, Introductory Courses, Textbook Content, Textbook Evaluation, Concept Teaching, Relevance (Education), Ethnicity, Gender Issues, Ethnic Diversity, Social Differences, Caseworker Approach
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A