Men and women go side by side. If we imagine a world without women even for a day, everything will become dull and boring. Women are an integral part of society. They have been the driving force of life in the world because they are birthing children and extending families. Had it not been for women, the societies and communities that existed in the past or present would not have been possible. Today, we see many people advocating about women’s rights and voicing their opinions loud and clear. Females have been victims of oppression for decades. The word feminism dates back to the `1970s when adding women issues to the workshop curriculum became a norm.
Societies encompass people, their welfare, and the solutions to issues they face. Social workers have been helping people to overcome their struggles and live a better life. Social work involves working for the welfare of children, adults, and older people regardless of their race, ethnicity, or gender. The concept of feminism in society emerged in the mid-1990s when it started as three different social work factions. The three factions of social work entailing feminism are liberal, radical, and socialist feminism. Each faction has a different perspective on social injustice and oppression of women.
Each feminist faction in social work has a different approach. However, the goal is to eradicate gender injustice by honoring women’s rights and giving them freedom of speech. Women’s movements have increased awareness about the issues faced by men and women due to sexism. Gender inequality still prevails besides efforts made for its eradication. Social workers and social justice services are trying their best to fight against prejudices prevailing in society.
This article will highlight a few reasons for the importance of feminism in social work.
- Empowering society
When we seek help from our peers or any professional, they do not solve the problem for us. However, they empower us to realize that we can overcome our issues. Empowerment is central to social work, and social workers focus on empowering anyone in dire need of help. The feminist approach in social work supports the empowerment theory to eradicate social injustice and empower individuals to strive for better. Social work focuses on individual and community empowerment on the whole. It focuses on how oppression is hindering people’s lives regardless of their gender and enables them to find ways to cope with the feeling of helplessness.
- Removing roadblocks
We all have some roadblocks that hinder our pathways to move forward. It can be a struggle to find a better job opportunity or something confined to gender-specific boundaries. With a feminist approach, social workers can remove these roadblocks by creating awareness of gender equality through social programs. Even though we may not agree to it, our societal system gets sexist in many aspects leading to roadblocks for people striving to get better opportunities. Feminism in social work believes in liberal and equal rights for everyone. It can shape the future for many people looking for a change in their lives.
Social workers remove the direct roadblocks and eliminate the indirect ones through interaction with authorities and individuals. Women often feel issues in voicing their opinions and getting what is rightfully theirs. Feminist social workers can empower women to stand for themselves and help them rise through oppression.
- Getting justice
Societal norms have always given extra privilege or weightage to male opinions. When it comes to getting access to justice, women have suffered. In the past few decades, females and children used to suffer a lot in prison, and they would often get little help to sort things out. Legal guidance was scarce, or it was not available for those who could not afford it. Thanks to the emergence of feminism and its influence, many nonprofit organizations and social justice services are now helping women. Justice is one of those privileges that everyone deserves. Modern laws have made it easier for social workers to contact sex crimes lawyer and law firms to help women seeking justice.
- Reducing gender-based violence
A WHO report reveals that one in three women faces sexual or physical abuse. The ratio of domestic violence is higher in women than men. Women have been the victim of honor killings, rape, and other sorts of abuses. Sadly they were not vocal in the past because no one would get them justice. The advances in social work and feminist approaches have now made it easy to intervene in families indulged in domestic violence. Such interventions have reduced the ratio of gender-based violence not at large but to some extent.
- Individual empowerment
The feminist approach in social work has empowered individuals to become their advocates. Social workers can encourage individuals and clients to identify their needs and guide them about the legal or other formalities they need to fulfill. Social workers can also enable individuals to avail themselves of healthcare services and other necessities. It can allow them to move forward in their life—establishing autonomy among individuals and client ID. The primary objective of social work is to build strength and independence among people.
Conclusion
Feminist theories have different factions that focus and regulate various aspects of society. It supports concepts and theories that support gender equality and women empowerment. However, social workers have played a substantial role in sustaining the community. Had it not been for social workers, we would have been a lost cause because not everyone has access to life’s necessities.
