Discuss the future of social movements and their relationship to contemporary social work practice. What role do you think social movements play in identifying social injustices and social service needs?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Some social workers practice in social movement service organizations (SMSOs),also known as social movement agencies, alternative social agencies, and hybrid organizations, which pursue social change while delivering services. These organizations make a fundamental commitment both to social service provision and to advocacy efforts. They often attempt to provide revolutionary services oriented toward empowerment and cognitive liberation. Their advocacy efforts are often focused on reframing public understanding of social problems and their solutions. For example, SMSOs serving homeless persons have attempted to reframe homelessness as being a consequence of failed housing policies, rather than a consequence of individual failings. Likewise, rape crisis centers have focused on gaining public affirmation that rape is not the victim's fault. Radical social movement organizations tend to be organized nonhierarchically and operate with little structure. Their goal is usually radical change in social institutions, rather than social reform. We are living in a time of growing inequality, distrust of governments, hot spots of ethnic hatred, and activism based on social identity. It is easy to get overwhelmed and feel powerless about the situations we confront. Social movement theory is an important ingredient in our social work survival kit. It helps us see that there is power in movement. It provides a conceptual base to reinvigorate our social reform mission.