Anti-oppressive practice

Anti-oppressive practice (AOP) is an interdisciplinary approach primarily rooted within the practice of social work that focuses on ending socioeconomic oppression. It requires the practitioner to critically examine the power imbalance inherent in an organizational structure with regards to the larger sociocultural context in order to develop strategies for creating an egalitarian environment free from oppression, racism, and other forms of discrimination in the larger society by engaging at the legal and political level. In social services it regulates any possible oppressive practices and helps in delivering welfare services in an inclusive manner.

Social work generally is known to be a "caring" profession, but sometimes services provided that work for one person do not necessarily work for another. Related to this there may be a 'care versus control' issue, because where there is care there is responsibility, and therefore control, and power (Humphries, 2004, p105).

An imbalance in this care and control service may lead to oppression. Lena Dominelli (2002) defines Oppression as, "relations that divide people into dominant or superior groups and subordinate or inferior ones. These relations of domination consist of the systematic devaluing of the attributes and contributions of those deemed inferior, and their exclusion from the social resources available to those in the dominant group" (pg. 8). The Exclusion (E.g. Xenophobia) that results from oppression or vice versa, can affect an individual or a system greatly. This process is often evaluative, where the individual ends up measuring him/herself in a hierarchy against the other based on the personal values s/he holds. Disposing to this, results in one's identity or trait being regarded as superior to the other, thus creating an "us-them" dynamic (othering process) resulting in division and which creates risk for oppression.

In social work, the anti-oppressive model aims to function and promote equal, non-oppressive social relations between various identities.Dominelli (2002) defines it, "in challenging established truths about identity, anti-oppressive practice seeks to subvert the stability of universalized biological representations of social division to both validate diversity and enhance solidarity based on celebrating difference amongst peoples" (p. 39). It remains dedicated to principles of social justice, which is also upheld in NASW values, by acknowledging diversity within oppression and considering the intersection and hierarchies of the "isms" that construct people as victims or perpetrators. The anti-oppressive model analyzes and advocates against macro & micro levels of oppression and emphasizes on social justice and social change along more empowering and emancipatory lines.

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