andrewy2

The Characteristics of a Radical Awareness: A quality of understanding of those people and institutions that oppress and limit, and the capacity to bring knowledge to bear continuously on problems of living Identity: the feeling that one has control and use of self-powers and can have impact on the world Skepticism: the courage to be critical and wary of any assumptive authority and to demand the best of it, whether it resides in an individual or institution Responsibility: the ability to create and defend one's distinctive meanings and the capacity for conviction that sustains action Employment: the capacity to engage oneself in something that has importance and meaning rather than to dabble in the trivial Tenseness: the awareness that life is serious, tentative, short, and demands one's best work Aims of Radical Social Work: One: To support social work that is informed by a class analysis. Two: To support social work that strives to reduce poverty and inequality of income and wealth. Three: To assert that social work aims to improve people's lives not only by helping individuals and families but also by striving for structural change. Four: To challenge the culture of managerialism and develop radical social work theories which give social workers confidence in tackling social problems. Five: To promote radical ideas by providing a forum for sharing experiences, discussing current events, clarifying views and developing awareness of social issues. Six: To support radicals in front-line social work who struggle to maintain a radical perspective.

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