Multicultural Issues in Social Work presents a collective vision of multiculturalism
in social work practice. The book reflects the multicultural reality of this country and
its increasingly multicultural families and individuals. It paves the way for practice and
research based on the knowledge that individuals cannot readily be identified in single
cultural categories. In this book multiculturalism refers to the professional
disposition to acknowledge, appreciate, and understand cultural diversity. The concept
contrasts sharply with ethnocentrism—the tendency to view reality only from the
perspective of one's own culture and to disfavor other cultures or view them as inferior.
Ethnocentrism breeds cultural intolerance, ignorance, and prejudice. Social work demands
flexibility in the helping role, a willingness to appreciate and learn from other
cultures, and skills to intervene in divergent cultural settings. Multicultural
perspectives, therefore, should permeate the entire curriculum of social work education
and all methods of professional practice.
The book contains knowledge about various age groups—children, youths, young
adults, and older people—and about various racial and ethnic groups—American
Indian, African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Caucasian, Latino. These groups vary
not only among but also within themselves. The book also recognizes cultures that exist
for reasons in addition to race and ethnicity—for example, a place of residence or
physical condition shared in common.
The book contains sections focused on multicultural practice, law and policy,
populations, education, health care, and service delivery. It contains specific knowledge
for all parts of the social work curriculum, including social policy, research, human
behavior, and practice. Students and educators in concentrations will find resources for
practice in organizations and communities, health, school social work, aging, children and
families, and other sectors.
The chapters clarify how multiculturalism encourages a positive focus on human
diversity within the context of clients', practitioners', and other key actors' complex
environments. Social workers' approach to practice has too often ignored the rich and
positive diversity among people, assuming that a focus on multiculturalism emphasizes
cultural differences in a negative way. This approach brings to mind the Chinese proverb,
"The only way around a situation is through it." Social work's way of attempting
to go around instead of addressing the issue of multiculturalism may have hampered
professionals' efforts to develop a more positive and direct understanding of cultural
variation. A positive approach is more likely to unite social workers and to help them
manage together the adverse economic, political, and social conditions presently
confronting U.S. society.
Social work literature has just begun to identify more positive and strengths-oriented
approaches to diversity and a multicultural perspective. With its emphasis on social
welfare and social justice, it is appropriate for this profession to take a leadership
role in theory building and advocacy for the development of multicultural perspectives.
Implicit in these perspectives is the requirement to address social structures that create
and maintain oppressive conditions that dehumanize both the oppressed and those who
witness oppression and to promote people's resiliency in coping with such conditions. Many
of these perspectives also acknowledge and value similarities and differences among
people from various racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups. Multicultural
perspectives are inclusive rather than exclusive by viewing the strengths, traditions, and
contributions of all groups as essential to the development and well-being of a society.
Multicultural Issues in Social Work addresses multiculturalism from this broad
and most inclusive framework and also provides in-depth discussions about specific areas
of human diversity from an ecological perspective. It is designed for social work
students, practitioners, educators, researchers, and policy analysts in a variety of
settings, fields of practice, and practice modalities. It should also be useful to
policymakers and researchers and to practitioners in other disciplines.
This book has been made possible through the contributions of the many authors, who
recognized the necessity of multicultural knowledge for practice. We acknowledge with
appreciation the importance of their work.
Patricia L. Ewalt
Edith M. Freeman
Stuart A. Kirk
Dennis L. Poole
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