Tips For Creating An Anti-Oppressive Practice

Crafting an Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice: Tips for Therapists and Social Workers

As part of my social work education, I recently completed a paper exploring Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) in social work. This transformative framework challenges systemic inequalities and injustices, focusing on empowerment, inclusivity, and social justice. In reflecting on how to integrate AOP into my future practice, I realized how essential it is for every social worker to actively dismantle oppressive systems to provide equitable care. Today, I’m sharing insights and tips on building an anti-oppressive practice, hoping to inspire others to embrace this approach in their own work.

What Is Anti-Oppressive Practice?

Anti-Oppressive Practice is a framework that addresses the systemic power imbalances and inequities embedded in our society. It emphasizes:

• Empowering individuals to recognize their lived experiences as valuable sources of knowledge.

• Challenging power dynamics between social workers and clients by fostering equality and inclusivity.

• Committing to social justice, not just in theory but in everyday actions and advocacy.

At its core, AOP requires social workers to engage in critical self-reflection about their own biases, privileges, and the societal structures they operate within.

Understanding Power, Privilege, and Oppression

Creating an anti-oppressive practice starts with understanding three key concepts:

1. Power: Present in all social interactions, power shapes relationships and can perpetuate both harm and healing. Recognizing how power manifests in client-worker dynamics is vital.

2. Privilege: Unearned advantages based on one’s dominant social group (e.g., race, gender, socioeconomic status). Acknowledging privilege helps social workers avoid replicating systemic injustices.

3. Oppression: Systemic barriers that disadvantage marginalized groups. Understanding how oppression operates at personal, cultural, and structural levels helps dismantle these barriers.

Building an Anti-Oppressive Practice

Here are three practical strategies to help you incorporate AOP into your practice:

1. Empower Clients

Empowerment means recognizing clients as the experts in their own lives. Social workers should:

• Collaborate with clients to identify their strengths and foster self-advocacy.

• Create space for clients to share their experiences without fear of judgment or dismissal.

• Respect their autonomy in decision-making processes.

2. Cultivate Cultural Humility

Cultural responsiveness requires social workers to acknowledge and adapt to the diverse backgrounds of their clients. To practice cultural humility:

• Listen actively to clients’ cultural experiences without imposing dominant or Western frameworks.

• Educate yourself continuously about different cultural norms and practices.

• Avoid one-size-fits-all solutions; instead, tailor your approach to each client’s unique context.

3. Advocate for Systemic Change

Anti-oppressive practice goes beyond individual sessions. Advocacy includes:

• Addressing systemic barriers by connecting clients to resources (e.g., housing, financial support).

• Challenging inequitable policies and practices within institutions and communities.

• Educating clients about their rights and amplifying their voices in broader conversations about justice.

Why This Matters

Social work has a complicated history, often complicit in perpetuating systems of oppression. Early practices reinforced inequalities through racial segregation, classism, and other forms of discrimination. Reflecting on this history is crucial for meaningful change.

In therapy, especially, we must go beyond universal Western frameworks and prioritize approaches that honor diverse identities. By dismantling oppressive dynamics and prioritizing inclusivity, we can create safe, affirming spaces for healing.

A Commitment to Growth

Integrating AOP into your social work practice requires ongoing education, self-awareness, and a commitment to social justice. By prioritizing client empowerment, cultural humility, and advocacy, you can help create meaningful change in both individual lives and the broader systems that shape our world.

Let’s continue this important work together. How will you incorporate anti-oppressive principles into your practice? Reach out and share your thoughts or experiences!

References

• Burke, B., & Harrison, P. (1998). Anti-oppressive practice. Social Work. Palgrave, London., 229–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-14400-6_19

• Chapman, C., & Withers, A. J. (2019). A violent history of benevolence: Interlocking oppression in the moral economies of social working. University of Toronto Press.

• Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. (2017). National Association of Social Workers.

• Dominelli, L. (2002). Anti-oppressive Social Work Theory and Practice. Red Globe Press London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4039-1400-2

• Franke, N. D. (2023). Understanding privilege and engaging in activism. Advances in Social Work, 23(1), 185–203. https://doi.org/10.18060/25825

• Gray, M., Midgley, J., & Webb, S. (2012). The sage handbook of social work. ResearchGate. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446247648

• Karim, S. (2023). Power-informed practice in Social Work. Journal of Social Work, 23(6), 1062–1079. https://doi.org/10.1177/14680173231180307

• LaBarbara, S. (2024). What is an anti-oppressive therapist? A Good Place. https://www.agoodplacetherapy.com/the-blog/anti-oppressive-therapist

• Mahwah, N. J., & Erlbaum, L. (1970). Advancing Social Justice Through Clinical Practice. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/advancingsocialj0000unse/page/n9/mode/2up

• Matthews, H., Sibbald, S., Szoke, T., & Varela, T. S. (2020). Anti-oppressive practice (AOP). Critically Infused Social Work. https://www.criticallyinfusedsw.com/antioppressive-practice Anti Oppressive Practice 8

• Payne, M., & Reith-Hall, E. (2019). The Routledge Handbook of Social Work theory (1st ed.). Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.

• Rush, M., & Keenan, M. (2014). The Social Politics of Social Work: Anti-Oppressive Social Work Dilemmas in Twenty-First-Century Welfare Regimes. The British Journal of Social Work, 44(6), 1436–1453. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bct014

• Raskin, S. M. (2019). Power, privilege, and oppression in counseling and family therapy. Heart and Meaning. https://www.heartandmeaning.com/post/2018/06/17/power-privilege-and-oppression-incounseling-and-family-therapy

• Van Wormer, K. (2015). Oppression. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 246–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-097086-8.28064-1