The Possibility of Building a Program of Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practices in Support of Women in Japan

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K02161
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08020:Social welfare-related
• Research Institution: Osaka Prefecture University
• Principal Investigator: KOJIMA Akiko 大阪府立大学, 人間社会システム科学研究科, 教授 (40298401)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 反抑圧的ソーシャルワーク実践 / 女性支援 / 婦人保護施設 / ジェンダー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An examination of previous research on anti-oppressive social work practice (AOP) has revealed that AOP is particularly used in grassroots practice activities and is also compatible with women's support. In this study, we interviewed staff members of a women's shelter to investigate how critical reflection, which is emphasized in AOP, is conducted. The results showed that staff members were aware that they may be oppressing their clients. It also became clear that they were making efforts to break down oppressive structures by democratizing support and emphasizing clients' opinions. The critical reflection of the staff was quite thorough, and it was inferred that it is possible to develop AOP in Japan.

Free Research Field

社会福祉学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究でのインタビューの結果、①支援者たちは利用者の置かれた困難が社会的・政治的な構造に起因するものとして把握していた②支援者たちは、専門職者に宿るパワーに自覚的であり、自らが利用者を抑圧する可能性があることについて十分認識していた③支援者たちは、措置元の機関と委託先の施設という、組織間権力の非対称性のために、利用者に対して十分な支援ができないことに自覚的だということがわかった。彼らは批判的省察を行っており、今後AOPのプログラムを導入する上で、受け入れの土壌はすでにできあがっていることが示唆された。本研究で得られた知見は、学術的にはもちろんのこと、社会的意義という面からも貴重なものである。