American Racism, Patriarchy, Intersectionality, and Social Work Practice

Catalog description

This course explores the complexities of inequity in America: the construction of racial and ethnic categories, the impact of inequity on identity, individuals and social institutions, and the influence of ideology and oppressive policies and practices on social welfare systems and their clients. This course will also examine overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination, or discrimination (Crenshaw, 1991). Students will use an intersectional lens to consider inequity and consider how the historical and contemporary experiences of African American, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQ+, disabled, and other marginalized groups are best understood. The examination of historical aspects of bias against marginalized groups informs inquiry into contemporary policies and practices including housing, education, environmental justice, economics, employment, politics, religion, and immigration. We will discuss the assigned scholarship, and consider the congruence of the policies and practices with the ethics and values of clinical social work, and the social work profession more broadly. The course is restricted to Doctorate in Clinical Social Work (DSW) students.