How do the theories taught in social work education address this discontent?
BC: Theories taught in the schools of social work can be divided into two general categories. One is the conventional theory, which tends to accept the inequalities of power within the society and leads to a kind of an adjustment approach to social problems–to help people cope better. The other category, which is a more progressive approach, is based on a structural analysis of what the power relations are in the society, and so there is an explicit identification of oppressive practices and structures around the various “isms” such as colonialism, heterosexism, racism, and ageism. When workers are aware of these, then they can apply a sense of dialogue that includes those larger dimensions. They can help the individual service user realize that they are a cog in a very large wheel, part of which is based on structured inequalities that are unjustifiable. So in a sense, the worker becomes an ally to the service user. Progressive service providers are conscious of the power difference
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