| Author: | Law, Yee Ming |
| Title: | The unheard stories of female social workers in Hong Kong : a feminist standpoint analysis of the life and field experiences |
| Advisors: | Ku, Hok-bun (APSS) |
| Degree: | DSW |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Subject: | Women social workers -- China -- Hong Kong Sex discrimination -- China -- Hong Kong Women -- Services for -- China -- Hong Kong Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Applied Social Sciences |
| Pages: | x, 167 pages : illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Feminist social work is a relatively marginal area within the body of professional knowledge, education and practice of social work in Hong Kong. This thesis aims to uncover the hidden voices and practice experiences of female social workers with gender sensitivity through life history research method and feminist standpoint analysis. It attempts to understand their life events and social work study journeys and the way in which they influence their gender consciousness, and it also exposes their frontline stories about promoting gender equality in the social work field, including the practice experiences and the wisdom of overcoming challenges. Suggestions are also considered and discussed regarding the promotion of gender and feminist perspective in social work practice in Hong Kong. This qualitative feminist research study thus aims at conceptualizing and examining the significant factors in constructing gender ideologies and the missions of promoting gender equality in the social work field. Five female social workers with gender sensitivity who have also participated in local women's organizations as volunteers were interviewed and their life stories as well as mine are presented and discussed in this thesis. The transcript data are critically analysed through thematic analysis framework. Four significant discoveries are revealed from the highly inspiring and respectful stories (data) in the interactive conversation: 1) resistance to inherit mother's life; 2) from tension to fluidity of identity; 3) develop gender lens through self-pursuance; and 4) 'be water' as the principle of action in organization. Four of my standpoints were also developed, including 1) gender-blinded social work education and social work field; 2) nurture gender awareness through reflective learning; 3) femin-management as the possibility of change; and 4) the recommendations of what feminist social workers could do in Hong Kong. The limitations and recommendations for further research are also discussed. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6369.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 1.36 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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