© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Chapter 16 Social Work Practice with Women Slides developed by Christine K. Fulmer Cedarville University

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Women: Vulnerable Population Do not share benefits and resources of male counterparts –Example: median income of women vs. men demonstrates gender bias More risk factors add to vulnerability –Such as women of color, lesbian women, women experiencing disability, etc.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Demographics In 2000, million females constituted 51% of the U.S. population –70% white – 40 median age (ma) –13% black – 32 ma –12% Hispanic – 26 ma –4% Asian American/Pacific Islander – 34 ma –1% American Indian/Alaskan Native – 29 ma

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Educational levels of Women Majority graduate from high school - Hispanic women have lowest rates at 56% More disparities among women graduating from college –39% Asian American/Pacific Islander highest –25% white, 16% black, 11% Hispanic, and 17% American Indian/Alaskan Native

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Advanced Degrees 1996 – 28% of advanced degrees were earned by women Women increasing in business degrees Women outnumbered men in advanced degrees in: –Literature, education, foreign language, liberal arts, and nursing & public health

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Women in the Labor Force Grown from 30% in 1950 to 61% in 2000 Less than 1/3 of traditional families have women not in paid labor force Large numbers of mothers with children under 18 are employed –Married mothers 70% –Unmarried mothers 79%

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Change in American Families Married-couple families with children 69% of all families with children in 2000 –87% in 1970 Single-mother families: 12 % 1970 to 26% Single-father families: 1% to 5% 2000 Single-parent families result of divorce & births outside of marriage

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Feminization of Poverty Contributing factors –Limited employment options –Social norms that assign women primary responsibility of caring for children –High rates of divorce –Out-of-wedlock childbearing

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Risk Factors Cardiovascular disease is the number 1 cause of death and disability among U.S. women Lung cancer Breast cancer HIV/AIDS Physical, psychological, and sexual abuse

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Ecosystems Model Historical Factors Environmental-Structural Factors Cultural Factors The Family The Individual

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Historical U.S. androcentric view defines women as different from and inferior to men Patriarchy emerges from this view –Gives males authority over females and formal power over public policies & practices –Men’s needs and perspectives are viewed as privileged

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Historical Women had few legal rights 1920: women’s right to vote legalized Social norms viewed paid work as deviant for married women until mid-1950s Social conditions changed post-WWII –Socially acceptable for married women to work

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Environmental-Structural Federal legislation and court decisions played role in women’s pursuit of equality 1960s & 1970s: progress in advancing rights in higher education & the workforce 1990s: Civil Rights Act, Family & Medical Leave Act, court decisions (sexual harassment)

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Women in the labor force –47% of women hold executive, administrative, and managerial positions –Men are paid more for same work –Women earn less than men at every degree level Holds true in social work circles Environmental-Structural

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Cultural Gender system –Values one gender over another –Culturally becomes normalized –Impact on behavior, relationships, & roles Popular views have changed toward more equality; still some resistance New opportunities for women

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Cultural Triple oppression –Experienced by many women of color Vulnerable due to class, race, and gender Impacted by racism, ethnic prejudice, & class discrimination Sexism and heterosexism oppression of lesbians

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott The Family Gender system –Gender role expectations & obligations –Generally, heterosexism is taught & enforced –Men work outside home for higher wages –Women have primary responsibility of unpaid childrearing & maintaining household

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott The Family Women working outside home increases self-esteem, assertiveness, & autonomy –Can be source of stress –Women still tend to take primary responsibility for household tasks –Men sometimes resent women working, but are being more involved in family life

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott The Family Men & women are marrying later in life Women giving birth later in life, especially if college educated Increase in women not having children Abortion rates are decreasing yearly –Estimated that by age 45, 43% of all women will have had an abortion

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott The Family Lesbian families –Estimated that 5% of all families are gay or lesbian –More egalitarian in relationships –Continue to be stigmatized and marginalized –Little to no legal protection for discrimination in employment, housing, education, etc.

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Families of Color Responsibilities of generationally passing on cultural, spiritual, and family values –Causes tension between cultural identity and mainstream U.S. culture –Some are more acculturated than others –Need for social work cultural competence Institutional racism – impacts families

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott The Individual Gender: cultural determinant of social status and socialization –Contributes to the development of psychological disorders Eating disorders & depression High risk women - of color, with low- income, lesbian, &/or older

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Intervention Strategies Use of ecosystems model can aid in framing the social worker’s understanding Evaluation of relationship of gender on presenting problem Evaluation of how gender bias could impact traditional service Relevant research and theories on women

© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces, Updated 12e Morales, Sheafor, and Scott Emerging Trends & Issues Social workers are challenged to: –Find ways to support the needs of employed women –Create alternate approaches to support childrearing and caregiving –Develop strategies for eliminating traditional gender role socialization and inequality