Paulo Freire: Neglected Mentor for Social Work |
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Authors: | Rebecca L Hegar |
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Institution: | 1. School of Social Work , University of Texas , Arlington , Texas , USA rhegar@uta.edu |
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Abstract: | Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator and author, advocated radical educational approaches to empower oppressed peoples. Social workers contributing to English-language journals and other literature have made only limited use of Freire's ideas. Explanations may include social work's clinical drift, discomfort with radical ideas, obliviousness to contributions from the developing world, unease with religious thought, and avoidance of primary sources, in addition to the complexity of Freire's writing style. This article introduces Freire's contributions and suggests consistent approaches in social work practice, past and present, illustrating that those who practice with marginalized and disempowered people can benefit from reading Freire as a mentor. |
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Keywords: | Freire conscientization progressive practice radical social work |
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