Drawing on ethnographic data, this article analyzes differentiation within a German parenting education program, illustrating how those involved become subjects of parenting education and how these practices shape diversity as practices of recognition. The study adopts Rose and Ricken's (2018) conceptualization of recognition as (re-)addressing, moving beyond a normative understanding of recognition as affirmation and delving into differentiation at the levels of selection, norm formation, positioning, and valuation. The study underscores the ambivalent nature of diversity practices and reveals a nuanced hierarchy within the program, where role modelling and a 'makeover' narrative drive the relational dynamics and shape the position of the 'professional other' (Heite, 2008) as a 'diversity worker' (Ahmed, 2012). Ultimately, the study concludes that diversity practices are inherently situated within societal dynamics of power and constitute powerful practices of recognition themselves, rather than serving as a means of escaping from power.
In this article, we will discuss diversity-sensitive research approaches and demonstrate how researchers can engage in self-critical reflections on their projects in relation to diversity and inclusion. The debate about diversity and inclusion in social work is increasingly characterized by a critical examination of organizations and professions. In this context, questions about the configuration of diversity and the ethical justifications of categorizations applied play a fundamental role. Against the backdrop of different models of justice, we examine diversity in terms of inclusion and exclusion within research on organizations. In this article, we provide a conceptual framework of critical diversity research in social service organizations which reflects the interplay of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. For this framework, we specifically draw on principles of participatory and inclusion research and apply them to the context of diversity in social service organizations.
The present article analyzes the potential of the photovoice method in diverse societies. Photovoice is a community-based participatory action research method with a photojournalistic, socio-critical approach that prioritizes the lived experiences of people belonging to marginalized communities. In photovoice projects, people take photos of their lives to identify community struggles and strengths, which are then collectively discussed and used to facilitate positive social change at the policy level. The article explores to what extent photovoice can benefit diversity within social work by I) supporting the understanding and empowerment of clients through a lifeworld orientation, II) enhancing social workers’ self-reflection on their own identity, role, and mission, and III) strengthening client-provider relationships. Limitations, possible non-intended effects, and potential ethical challenges of the implementation of photovoice in diverse societies are discussed. We conclude the article with practical recommendations on how social workers can incorporate photovoice into their professional practice.
Gender identity and sexual orientation are fundamental components of human existence. Therefore, addressing sexual and gender diversity can be seen as a core social work task. However, it is one that continues to pose significant challenges to practitioners due to their own entanglement in social norms and taboos and their own gender identity and sexual orientation (Baer & Höblich 2021). The article presents findings from an empirical study, in which 16 biographical interviews with queer professionals in various fields of child and youth welfare were conducted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis to examine how queer practitioners address sexual and gender diversity in their practice, if and how they position themselves as queer within client-provider-relationships, teams and their organization. Findings reveal that queer professionals play a crucial role in sexual and gender minority communities and how this affects their professional work. They face both opportunities and limitations when forming working connections with clients, acting as role models, and delivering appropriate services to LGBTIQ* clients based on their personal and professional know-how. Queer Professionals also criticise being positioned as 'diverse' by clients and colleagues.
Since the turbulence of the 2009 Economic Crisis, skepticism about individualism and free-market economics has become widespread in the U.S. This study empirically examined how Americans' attitudes toward the welfare state have changed over the past decade. The study used data from the World Values Survey to make a longitudinal comparison of welfare attitudes before (2006) and after (2017) the Economic Crisis. The results show that the United States, unlike other developed countries, has experienced a significant increase in welfare attitudes after the crisis. The study also found that welfare attitudes were polarized by political affiliation and religiosity.
