First Half for SWP335 Exam Reading 1-9

Empowerment

Enabling marginalized groups to gain power, though complicated by ambiguities in identifying the powerless.

Critical Perspective on Power

Views power as dynamic and relational rather than structural or role-based, challenging traditional modernist notions.

Postmodern Views on Power

Argue that power is exercised through actions and interactions instead of being possessed.

Paradoxes of Empowerment

Empowering one group can inadvertently lead to the disempowerment of another.

Productive Power

Power that creates opportunities and fosters growth within a context.

Repressive Power

Power that enforces constraints and limits individual actions.

Crown Land

Land held by the Crown in Canada, often leading to the denial of Indigenous land rights.

Intersectionality

A framework for understanding how overlapping social identities impact experiences of discrimination.

Social Order

The organization of society, including laws and customs, that can be reshaped if deemed unfair.

Binary Oppositional Relations

Oversimplified view of power dynamics as merely powerful vs. powerless.

Cultural Scripts

Societal lessons that shape individuals' identities and behaviors, often root in colonial ideologies.

Discourse Analysis

Study of language to understand how it shapes perceptions of power, relationships, and social norms.

Collective Action

Joint actions taken by individuals or groups to challenge oppression and advocate for rights.

HIV-related Stigma

Negative treatment of individuals with HIV, often leading to discrimination.

Stigmatization

The process by which individuals or groups are devalued and discriminated against based on certain attributes.

Symbolic Violence

Violence exercised more subtly through social norms that maintain dominant groups' power.

Unintended Consequences of Empowerment

Empowerment practices that unintentionally reinforce dependency or create alienation.

Activist Social Work

Social work focused on standing up for fairness and addressing systemic injustices.

Goffman's Concept of Stigma

Defines stigma as attributes that discredit an individual, impacting their identity.

Political Economy of Stigmatization

Linking stigma to processes of social exclusion and economic inequality.

Community Mobilization

Organizing community members to collectively challenge stigma and discrimination.

Legal Protection Against Stigma

Implementing laws aimed at protecting marginalized groups from stigma and discrimination.

Crown Motivations

The Crown's objectives that lead to the entrenchment of land alienation from Indigenous peoples.

Reflexivity in Social Work

Critical reflection on power dynamics to promote empowerment among all stakeholders.

Micro, Meso, Macro Levels

Different levels of stigma's impact; micro focuses on personal, meso on community, and macro on systemic issues.

False Consciousness

A misunderstanding of one's real interests, often perpetuated through ideologies.

A Yellowhead Institute Red Paper

A paper addressing land alienation, Indigenous rights, and the impacts of colonialism in Canada.

Discourse and Power

How discourse reflects and reinforces power structures within society.

Collective Empowerment

Balancing individual needs with group empowerment to achieve consensus.

Foucault’s Power Theory

Suggests power relations are inherent in social interactions and structures.

Activist Practice

Approaching social work actively to advocate for rights and address inequalities.

Economic Catalyst

Role of land in driving economic growth, often at the expense of Indigenous rights.

Historical Roles of White Women

Roles that reinforced colonialism and racism under the guise of moral responsibility.

Women's Rights and Intersectional Discrimination

Understanding how women face unique challenges based on overlapping identities.

Denial of Aboriginal Rights

Refers to the systematic disregard for Indigenous land rights and authority.

Bottom-Up Research

Research approach focusing on the lived experiences of marginalized individuals.

Personal Choice and Social Difference

The importance of respecting individual differences in empowerment efforts.

Narrative and Meaning-Making

Using personal stories to create meaning from individual experiences.

Role of Social Workers in Advocacy

Social workers should challenge unfair systems and support communal empowerment.

Social Processes of Stigmatization

Dynamic procedures linking social power to the stigma of individuals based on attributes.

Consciousness-Raising

A process aimed at uncovering how personal experiences reinforce broader systemic oppression.

Support Groups as Coping Mechanisms

Communities of individuals who share similar struggles to provide mutual support.

Political Awareness in Social Work

The necessity for social workers to understand political dynamics to effect change.

Holistic Solutions to Discrimination

Policies addressing interactions of various aspects of identities in combating social inequalities.

The Role of Language in Social Norms

Language shapes perceptions and can create or uphold social norms.

Community Accountability

Expecting community members to support and hold each other responsible for their actions.

Complexity of Empowerment Models

The understanding that empowerment processes are often contradictory and dynamic.