Understanding Empowerment on the Basis of Power, Powerlessness, Oppression and Power Relations

Abstract

Beside the traditional social work knowledge and value base, the empowerment approach involves understanding and analyzing oppression, and experiencing the empowerment process by focusing on power and oppression. In the relevant literature, it is seen that power is discussed with its conceptual dimensions, there is no information and discussion on how power relations can be analyzed by focusing on power relations. This article, which is structured on the basis of the concepts of power, powerlessness and oppression, discusses the issue of empowerment that started with Jane Addams in social work discipline and profession is emphasized along with historical view on power and powerlessness. The aim of this study is to discuss the concept of power and historicalness of power, and to understand how individuals are weakened with the use of oppression and oppression tools, and understand the empowerment process which are the analysis steps of power relations, and enabling change in power relations with the development of critical consciousness by understanding, exploring, reframing the power relations. As a result, emphasizing the importance of empowerment in social work for achieving beloved, equitable and fair community, it is argued that there is a need for a paradigm change based on empowerment in the social work knowledge and practice.

Keywords

• power
• powerlessness
• oppression
• empowerment approach
• social work

GÜÇLENMEYİ GÜÇ, GÜÇSÜZLÜK, BASKI VE GÜÇ İLİŞKİLERİ TEMELİNDE ANLAMAK

Abstract

Güçlenme yaklaşımı, geleneksel sosyal hizmetin bilgi ve değer temelinin yanında, baskıyı kavramayı ve analiz etmeyi, güç ve baskıya odaklanarak güçlenme sürecini deneyimlemeyi içerir. İlgili alanyazında gücün yalnızca kavramsal boyutlarıyla tartışıldığı, güç ilişkilerine odaklanılmadığı, güç ilişkilerinin analizinin nasıl gerçekleştirilebileceğine ilişkin bilgilerin ve tartışmaların yer almadığı görülmektedir. Güç, güçsüzlük ve baskı kavramları temelinde yapılandırılan bu makalede, güç ve güçsüzlüğe ilişkin tarihsel görüşler ile birlikte sosyal hizmet disiplin ve mesleğinde Jane Addams ile başlayan güçlenme meselesi ele alınmaktadır. Bu çalışma ile güç kavramı ve gücün tarihselliği tartışılarak baskı ve baskı araçlarının kullanımı ile bireylerin nasıl güçsüzleştirildiği, güç ilişkilerinin analiz adımları olan güç ilişkilerini anlama, keşfetme, yeniden çerçeveleme ve eleştirel bilincin gelişimi ile güç ilişkilerinde değişimi sağlama ile güçlenme sürecinin kavranması amaçlanmaktadır. Sonuç olarak sevgi dolu, adil ve eşitlikçi bir toplum hayaline erişmede sosyal hizmet için güçlenmenin önemine vurgu yapılarak sosyal hizmet bilgi üretiminde ve uygulamasında güçlenme temelli bir paradigma değişimine ihtiyaç olduğu savunulmaktadır.

Keywords

• güç
• güçsüzlük
• baskı
• güçlenme yaklaşımı
• sosyal hizmet

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