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Reproductive justice is essential in the struggle to remove health inequalities. Currently, escalating threats to reproductive rights are rarely discussed in contemporary social work literature. Discomfort in the profession about addressing challenges to abortion rights exposes a lack of courage to treat abortion as essential healthcare. A case study of several abortion-focused articles and chapters reveals a strand of ambivalence about taking a progressive stance on abortion. Recent trends demonstrate that reproductive rights cannot be taken for granted. Even when law reform removes some of the barriers to safe, legal abortion, abortion stigma and anti-choice harassment remain potent threats to reproductive autonomy. A case is made for reproductive justice to be central in our drive for health equality. This requires a feminist perspective, moving away from seeing women as merely the object of the social work gaze, too often the focus of scrutiny and judgement.
An examination of media discourse on welfare spending in New Zealand finds significant linking of child abuse, parenting and welfare dependency. A battle of words rages between advocacy groups and those who would argue that there is no child poverty, only bad parenting. In this ‘age of austerity’ a common element of the discourse is the labelling of ‘feral’ families and feckless parents as scapegoats for moral and economic decline. A re-emerging underclass discourse is revealed, highly racialised, with family violence in the Maori population targeted for intense scrutiny and vilification in the press.
While much has been written about social worker migration to the northern hemisphere, prior to the current decade little was known about the experiences of social workers, with professional qualifications gained elsewhere, who were practising in Aotearoa New Zealand. The cultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand brings particular challenges to transnational social workers, and their professional perspectives were little understood. Both qualitative and quantitative strategies were used in a three-phase project to gain greater insight. The findings provided understanding into the nature of the transitional experience for migrant professionals and new vantage points on views of social work as practised in different contexts. We identify perceptions reflecting ‘enduring professional dislocation’ arising from limits to the portability of any ‘universal’ constructs of social work and demonstrating the need for structured support and education for transnational social workers.
New Zealand is in the midst of a campaign to cut welfare spending, aligned to the ‘austerity’ discourse preoccupying many countries. Over the period 2011–14, two significant government projects were developed side by side: a programme of welfare reforms (Welfare Working Group, 2011) and a new programme of interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of child abuse (Ministry of Social Development (MSD), 2012b). The two projects emanated from the same arm of government, the MSD, but they were not linked in their everyday activities. Both projects have generated significant public interest and are imbued with ideological content.
Negative framing of the poor – alongside amplified expressions of class disgust – amid the on-going programme of welfare reform has been noted elsewhere (Tyler, 2013). Links between child maltreatment and welfare claimants are also common (Warner, 2013). An analysis of the media discourse on welfare families in New Zealand has found significant linking of family violence to poverty and ‘beneficiary’ or claimant status, most noticeable in examination of the commentary on ‘opinion pieces’ or columns. A battle of words rages between advocacy groups (Wynd, 2013) that research poverty in New Zealand and those who would link the issue of ‘welfare families’to child abuse and neglect.
This chapter explores the construction of a ‘feral families’ discourse in the New Zealand print media and considers whether this construction may constitute an example of the ‘folk devil’ so often manifest in a moral panic. Such families are characterised as being welfare dependent, prone to violence and predominantly Maori.
In all discussions of moral panics, the role of the media is germane.
This unique book provides an international comparison of labour markets, migrant professionals and immigration policies, and their interaction in relation to social work.
Case studies based on the latest research from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia allow readers to make critical comparisons and gain understanding of the global nature of the social work profession. Detailed analysis covers the opportunities and challenges presented by labour market mobility, the implications for social justice and discussion of the experiences and perceptions of transnational social workers.
Essential reading for social work educators, academics and professionals, this book will also inform the development of relevant policy, professional, and educational responses to the phenomenon of transnational social work mobility.
This introductory chapter, written by the editors of the book, introduces the concept of ‘transnational social work’, explaining factors that have lead to social work becoming a transnational profession, and impacts on social workers. The chapter then sets out the aims of the book, and how it brings together leading researchers to compare social work labour markets in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It explains the structure and content of the book, and summarises the sections and chapters.
This chapter summarises the recurring themes and lessons from the preceding substantive chapters and reflects upon their implications. It draws together the different issues, laws and culture in social work across the five countries examined, and compares the country-specific challenges raised in the chapters. The editors make recommendations for how the social work profession can take a more active role in the transition of Transnational Social Workers, and highlight good practice in preceding chapters. Finally, they comment on the need for more research in the area, including with service users.
This unique book provides an international comparison of labour markets, migrant professionals and immigration policies, and their interaction in relation to social work. Case studies based on the latest research from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia allow readers to make critical comparisons and gain understanding of the global nature of the social work profession. Detailed analysis covers the opportunities and challenges presented by labour market mobility, the implications for social justice and discussion of the experiences and perceptions of transnational social workers. Essential reading for social work educators, academics and professionals, this book will also inform the development of relevant policy, professional, and educational responses to the phenomenon of transnational social work mobility.
This unique book provides an international comparison of labour markets, migrant professionals and immigration policies, and their interaction in relation to social work. Case studies based on the latest research from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia allow readers to make critical comparisons and gain understanding of the global nature of the social work profession. Detailed analysis covers the opportunities and challenges presented by labour market mobility, the implications for social justice and discussion of the experiences and perceptions of transnational social workers. Essential reading for social work educators, academics and professionals, this book will also inform the development of relevant policy, professional, and educational responses to the phenomenon of transnational social work mobility.
This unique book provides an international comparison of labour markets, migrant professionals and immigration policies, and their interaction in relation to social work. Case studies based on the latest research from the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia allow readers to make critical comparisons and gain understanding of the global nature of the social work profession. Detailed analysis covers the opportunities and challenges presented by labour market mobility, the implications for social justice and discussion of the experiences and perceptions of transnational social workers. Essential reading for social work educators, academics and professionals, this book will also inform the development of relevant policy, professional, and educational responses to the phenomenon of transnational social work mobility.
