Social work activism: Examining perceptions and participation

Social   work , unlike many professions, has a historical commitment to  social  justice and an  activism  agenda. This study a non-experimental explanatory survey design which randomly sampled members of the New York City chapter of NASW, examined some of the variables associated with attitudes toward, and  participation  in,  activism  and also examined the impact of  social   work  education programs on pre-existing levels of  activism . This inquiry was designed to answer, To what extent are  social  workers involved in  activism  as it relates to  social  problems? To what extent does membership in a group that has experienced oppression affect the assumption of an activist role? and To what extent does  social   work  education result in a  social  worker assuming an activist role?

The study produced statistically significant findings, to varying degrees, on factors that support a  social  worker assuming more of an activist role. Programs and schools of  social   work  can benefit from this study's findings of the factors associated with higher levels of  activism . These factors included, (1) the influence of family of origin prior to  social   work  education, (2)  participation  in high school and college  activism  prior to  social   work  education, (3) age, (4) race, (5) membership in an organization supporting  activism , (6) content in  social   work  education, (7) clients' socioeconomic status, (8) seeking information related to  social  policy and (9) identifying a negative impact of  social  policy on practice and/or clients.

Social   work  education must take a critical look into  activism  by  examining  how it is conceptualized, taught and practiced. Innovative approaches toward curriculum and field education are greatly needed as the profession continues to contend with ways to develop more activist oriented professionals.