Social construction addresses the cultural factors and social
dynamics that give rise to and maintain values and beliefs. Drawing
on postmodern philosophies and critical, social, and literary
theories, social construction has become an important and
influential framework for practice and research within social work
and related fields. Embracing inclusivity and multiplicity, social
construction provides a framework for knowledge and practice that
is particularly congruent with social work values and aims.
In this accessible collection, Stanley L Witkin showcases the
innovative ways in which social construction may be understood and
expressed in practice. He calls on experienced
practitioner-scholars to share their personal accounts of
interpreting and applying social constructionist ideas in different
settings (such as child welfare agencies, schools, and the courts)
and with diverse clientele (such as "resistant" adolescents,
disadvantaged families, indigenous populations, teachers, children
in protective custody, refugee youth, and adult perpetrators of
sexual crimes against children). Eschewing the prescriptive stance
of most theoretical frameworks, social construction can seem
challenging for students and practitioners. This book responds with
rich, illustrative descriptions of how social constructionist
thinking has inspired practice approaches, illuminating the
diversity and creative potential of practices that draw on social
constructionist ideas.
Writing in a direct, accessible style, contributors translate
complex concepts into the language of daily encounter and care, and
through a committed transnational focus they demonstrate the global
reach and utility of their work. Chapters are provocative and
thoughtful, reveal great suffering and courage, share inspiring
stories of strength and renewal, and acknowledge the challenges of
an approach that complicates evidence-based evaluations and
requirements.
eISBN: 978-0-231-53030-9
Subjects: Sociology, Anthropology
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