Anti-oppressive Practice

The complex nature of oppression is witnessed in the lives of people who are marginalised in this society. As social work practitioners, we have a moral, ethical and legal responsibility to challenge inequality and disadvantage. Historically, the profession, in attempting to understand, explain and offer solutions to the difficulties experienced by groups and individuals, has drawn from, among others, the disciplines of sociology, psychology, history, philosophy and politics. This multidisciplined theoretical framework, informed by anti-oppressive principles, provides social workers with a tool to understand and respond to the complexity of the experience of oppression. This chapter explores how a theorised social work practice informed by anti-oppressive principles can be sensitively and effectively used to address the inequalities of oppression that determine the life chances of service users. [. . .] Black feminist thought is a dynamic perspective, derived from ‘diverse lived experiences’, that not only analyses human interactions based on principles of equality, but also considers the interconnections that exist between the major social divisions of class, race, gender, disability, sexuality and age as they impact on the individual, family and community. [. . .] We hold the view that personal experiences are inextricably linked to and determined by social, cultural, political and economic relationships within specific geographical and historical situations. This process of location allows us to challenge those who see only our race, gender or class,