Managing diversity: Analyzing individualism, awareness and difference in field instructors' discourse.

ABSTRACT

Diversity and social justice are central values in social work practice and education; however, there is a paucity of research that has examined the ways that these issues are infused into students’ field education experiences. In this paper, the authors analyze field instructors’ discourses about diversity, race, and social justice through their discussion of how they understand and integrate diversity issues into their work with social work students.

Consistent with existing research related to diversity and social justice in social work education, as well as the impacts of neoliberalism on the field, findings illustrate the pervasiveness of cultural competency discourses in how field instructors discuss diversity issues, including: individualism, an emphasis on awareness as a central approach to addressing oppression and difference, and powerblind/colorblind ideologies. The authors discuss implications and directions for future research. 

CITATION

Tecle, A. S., Mehrota, G., & Gringeri, C. (In press). Managing diversity: Analyzing individualism, awareness and difference in field instructors' discourse. Journal of Teaching in Social Work.

 

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