Working with Men - Feminism and Social Work (Paperback)

One of feminism's key contributions to improving social work practice has been to expose the gender-blindness which has been characterized social work practice and literature. Working with men extends and diversifies this contribution by presenting a controversial collection of essays written by feminist about men. In what has been a previously unexplored area of social work, the contributors of `Working with Men', feminist academics, researchers and practitioners, explore the issues of feminist practice with men highlighting the dilemmas which they have encountered in undertaking this work. They contend that for too long feminists have ignored the issue of direct work with men. The argument that men must take responsibility for their own recontruction they assert is no longer sustainable: feminists must generate their own discourse about the nature of men and masculinity derived from their own experience of critically engaging with and challenging men. The contributors conclude that direct work with men is a legitimate feminist activity; that it is one important strand of a broader strategy whose ultimate goal is the empowerment of women.
This book will be valuable reading for all students of social work and applied social science as well as social work practitioners and managers.