Empowerment Theory In Social Work
Social work theories and perspectives are at the core of every social workers practice framework. Theories drive the worker to understand the best way to work alongside clients. The following essay discusses, analyses and critiques a specific practice theory. The theory that was chosen is empowerment theory. The key factors, political and historical aspects will also be shown throughout and the theory will be assessed for its effectiveness in regards to a specific case study.
Empowerment theory can be used effectively with a wide range of clients. It was initially developed to employ a sense of power to oppressed groups such as women, people of colour/culturally-oppressed groups, sufferers of domestic violence, the disabled etc. (Gutiérrez, GlenMaye, & DeLois, 1995). Empowerment …show more content…
theory within social work practice, ‘seeks to help clients gain powers of decision and action over their own lives by reducing the effect of social or personal blocks to exercising their existing power, increasing their capacity and self-confidence to use their power, and transferring power to people who lack it’ (Payne, 2014, p. 294). The elements and key factors stem back to the importance of power. It should be understood when implementing this theory, that power cannot simply be given to an individual/client, practitioners must assist them to implement power for themselves (Payne, 2014). This power usually stems from a social worker helping their clients to become more self-aware of their own power in their lives (Gutiérrez, GlenMaye, & DeLois, 1995). In addition, empowerment theory helps clients overcome barriers; gain access to services, and focuses on righting social injustices (Payne, 2014). Due to empowerment theory being such a positive and inclusive idea, often it is used as a macro theory to underpin other practice models such as, critical, feminist and anti-discrimination theories (Payne, 2014).
Literature has shown that empowerment theory is based on a conflict model. The conflict model assumed the stance that society contains specific groups whom possess a varying level of power and control over the available resources (Gutiérrez, 1990). Although the literature does not state exactly when empowerment theory came to fruition, it is stated that during the past three decades empowerment practice has become a more prominent theory within the human services sector (Gutiérrez, GlenMaye, & DeLois, 1995). Since then, policy-makers, researchers, and practitioners have become enthusiastic to apply empowerment theory within their practice (Adams, 2008). History may have also been a turning point for this theory. During the time of African American oppression, this theory began to become more prominent within social work. This may be due to African American peoples were experiencing an immense amounts of oppression during this time and a need for advocacy and empowerment was clear. This may have been the original motivation of how empowerment theory came to be (Payne, 2014).
Ree’s (1991) developed an analysis of how a political role, plays an important part within empowerment theory. This analysis describes essential practice ideas relating to empowerment theory’s political context, these include, biography and power. Biography seeks to understand how clients experience and understand the world around them and heightens the potential of workers helping the client to change the way they view or react to future events or problems. Thus enabling the clients to grow within themselves. Power within the political context is seen as liberating as well as oppressive. This is because politics can enable a process of obtaining resources and settling conflicts (liberating), as well as take advantage of the person who is subject to the misconduct of power (oppressive). Payne (2014) states that a ‘belief in economic and political liberalism as the best way of understanding human life is allied to the managerial control of agencies and social systems in the cause of ‘efficiency and effectiveness’’. Political understanding should inform practice as it looks to understand constraints and opportunities for clients. Payne (2014) also states that, ‘interdependence of policy and practice must be established. This is contrary to convention, which regards the development of policy as lying outside the role of practitioners and their work with clients’. Being aware of policies is an important aspect within empowerment theory, as many ethical and moral dilemmas may arise whilst working with oppressed individuals (Payne 2014).
As mentioned previously empowerment theory is an extremely inclusive approach to social work.
It can be used whilst working in a vast number of settings including, individually, within groups, and communities and provides strengths that some other theories are lacking (Turner, 2011). This theory is has been described as ‘practical, culturally compatible, and economically realistic for women and other marginalized groups’ (Prigoff, 1992, p. 63). It caters for differences between culture, ethnicities and backgrounds. It aims to work most effectively with oppressed people such as, the disabled, domestic violence survivors, people of colour, as well as any other oppressed group or individual. It is a collaborative theory, which aims to heighten the clients’ sense of power within their own lives. This is achieved by coming together to work against oppression and aims to strengthen the capabilities of client. When used effectively this theory builds strengths, problem-solving skills and helps create strategies for change and eventually the client becomes a positive role model within their own lives (Lee, 2001). Majority of these strengths prevail over a great number of other practice
theories.
Empowerment theory makes many assumptions in regards to the capability, strengths, and lives of clients it seeks to benefit. Lord and Hutchison (1993) outline four critical assumptions of empowerment theory, these include; ‘Individuals are assumed to understand their own needs better than anyone else and therefore should have the power both to define and act upon them, all people possess strengths upon which they can build, empowerment is a lifelong endeavour, (and) personal knowledge and experience are valid and useful in coping effectively’ (Lord & Hutchison, 1993, p. 4). Assuming the capabilities of a client can be a dangerous feat. This is because if clients do not match these assumptions they may in turn, become disempowered (Chenoweth & McAuliffe, 2015).
Like any theory, empowerment does have weaknesses. Adequate research has been done around the effectiveness of empowering clients however; minimum information is available and a lack of research has been conducted to understand the best models, or ways of empowering clients. This is why clients may sometimes report disempowerment when giving feedback to organisations or service providers. Another weakness within empowerment theory is based around the struggle of measuring empowerment. Unfortunately there is no clear consensus to measure whether the empowerment theory is in fact empowering. It is a critique that many researchers agree with. As of so far, there is still no concrete or universal way of measuring the rise or fall of empowerment within a client (Kasturirangan, 2008). Change is expected to occur by the client understanding and relishing in their new sense of power within their lives. Unfortunately it is difficult to know whether this change is occurring because of the practice theory due to the lack of the ability to measure empowerment.
Empowerment theory can be used effectively with a wide range of clients. It was initially developed to employ a sense of power to oppressed groups such as women, people of colour/culturally-oppressed groups, sufferers of domestic violence, the disabled etc. (Gutiérrez, GlenMaye, & DeLois, 1995). Empowerment …show more content…
theory within social work practice, ‘seeks to help clients gain powers of decision and action over their own lives by reducing the effect of social or personal blocks to exercising their existing power, increasing their capacity and self-confidence to use their power, and transferring power to people who lack it’ (Payne, 2014, p. 294). The elements and key factors stem back to the importance of power. It should be understood when implementing this theory, that power cannot simply be given to an individual/client, practitioners must assist them to implement power for themselves (Payne, 2014). This power usually stems from a social worker helping their clients to become more self-aware of their own power in their lives (Gutiérrez, GlenMaye, & DeLois, 1995). In addition, empowerment theory helps clients overcome barriers; gain access to services, and focuses on righting social injustices (Payne, 2014). Due to empowerment theory being such a positive and inclusive idea, often it is used as a macro theory to underpin other practice models such as, critical, feminist and anti-discrimination theories (Payne, 2014).
Literature has shown that empowerment theory is based on a conflict model. The conflict model assumed the stance that society contains specific groups whom possess a varying level of power and control over the available resources (Gutiérrez, 1990). Although the literature does not state exactly when empowerment theory came to fruition, it is stated that during the past three decades empowerment practice has become a more prominent theory within the human services sector (Gutiérrez, GlenMaye, & DeLois, 1995). Since then, policy-makers, researchers, and practitioners have become enthusiastic to apply empowerment theory within their practice (Adams, 2008). History may have also been a turning point for this theory. During the time of African American oppression, this theory began to become more prominent within social work. This may be due to African American peoples were experiencing an immense amounts of oppression during this time and a need for advocacy and empowerment was clear. This may have been the original motivation of how empowerment theory came to be (Payne, 2014).
Ree’s (1991) developed an analysis of how a political role, plays an important part within empowerment theory. This analysis describes essential practice ideas relating to empowerment theory’s political context, these include, biography and power. Biography seeks to understand how clients experience and understand the world around them and heightens the potential of workers helping the client to change the way they view or react to future events or problems. Thus enabling the clients to grow within themselves. Power within the political context is seen as liberating as well as oppressive. This is because politics can enable a process of obtaining resources and settling conflicts (liberating), as well as take advantage of the person who is subject to the misconduct of power (oppressive). Payne (2014) states that a ‘belief in economic and political liberalism as the best way of understanding human life is allied to the managerial control of agencies and social systems in the cause of ‘efficiency and effectiveness’’. Political understanding should inform practice as it looks to understand constraints and opportunities for clients. Payne (2014) also states that, ‘interdependence of policy and practice must be established. This is contrary to convention, which regards the development of policy as lying outside the role of practitioners and their work with clients’. Being aware of policies is an important aspect within empowerment theory, as many ethical and moral dilemmas may arise whilst working with oppressed individuals (Payne 2014).
As mentioned previously empowerment theory is an extremely inclusive approach to social work.
It can be used whilst working in a vast number of settings including, individually, within groups, and communities and provides strengths that some other theories are lacking (Turner, 2011). This theory is has been described as ‘practical, culturally compatible, and economically realistic for women and other marginalized groups’ (Prigoff, 1992, p. 63). It caters for differences between culture, ethnicities and backgrounds. It aims to work most effectively with oppressed people such as, the disabled, domestic violence survivors, people of colour, as well as any other oppressed group or individual. It is a collaborative theory, which aims to heighten the clients’ sense of power within their own lives. This is achieved by coming together to work against oppression and aims to strengthen the capabilities of client. When used effectively this theory builds strengths, problem-solving skills and helps create strategies for change and eventually the client becomes a positive role model within their own lives (Lee, 2001). Majority of these strengths prevail over a great number of other practice
theories.
Empowerment theory makes many assumptions in regards to the capability, strengths, and lives of clients it seeks to benefit. Lord and Hutchison (1993) outline four critical assumptions of empowerment theory, these include; ‘Individuals are assumed to understand their own needs better than anyone else and therefore should have the power both to define and act upon them, all people possess strengths upon which they can build, empowerment is a lifelong endeavour, (and) personal knowledge and experience are valid and useful in coping effectively’ (Lord & Hutchison, 1993, p. 4). Assuming the capabilities of a client can be a dangerous feat. This is because if clients do not match these assumptions they may in turn, become disempowered (Chenoweth & McAuliffe, 2015).
Like any theory, empowerment does have weaknesses. Adequate research has been done around the effectiveness of empowering clients however; minimum information is available and a lack of research has been conducted to understand the best models, or ways of empowering clients. This is why clients may sometimes report disempowerment when giving feedback to organisations or service providers. Another weakness within empowerment theory is based around the struggle of measuring empowerment. Unfortunately there is no clear consensus to measure whether the empowerment theory is in fact empowering. It is a critique that many researchers agree with. As of so far, there is still no concrete or universal way of measuring the rise or fall of empowerment within a client (Kasturirangan, 2008). Change is expected to occur by the client understanding and relishing in their new sense of power within their lives. Unfortunately it is difficult to know whether this change is occurring because of the practice theory due to the lack of the ability to measure empowerment.