“Not social workers, but social fighters”: Navigating the search for macro social work identity in the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Journal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol36iss4id1199Keywords:
macro social work, social work identity, meta-synthesis, social justiceAbstract
Introduction: Given the social work profession’s roots in social justice and recognising the social determinants of wellbeing, macro social work is an essential part of the professional identity. However, macro work is often a marginalised part of the profession because of an increasing focus on clinical work due to the rise of neoliberalism and practical barriers.
Methods: To better understand macro social work’s place in the profession, this research sought to assess the historical and current discourses surrounding macro social work in Aotearoa New Zealand. To do this, a qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis was conducted on publications of the Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work Journal since it began in 1965 to 2020. This meta-synthesis was one part of a broader study on macro social work for a PhD thesis.
Findings: The analysis focused on finding journal articles that relate to macro social work to generate themes around how social workers think and feel about the place of macro social work in the profession. Themes around historical trends, scope of practice and the status of the profession were discussed in the context of macro social work and social change. The themes illuminated key tensions between micro and macro social work in the professional identity.
Conclusions: This article makes a case for bridging the divide between micro and macro work and increasing the discussion of macro social work in the professional discourse in the Journal and beyond.
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