Integrating Content on Feminism and Racism into the Social Work Curriculum

Abstract

This paper describes one possible approach of integrating the key areas of racism and sexism into the human behavior sequence. It is suggested that power relations among people has become a unifying concept of human behavior in modern society, replacing the Freudian libido. Under this conceptual umbrella the relationship between men and women, between races, between social classes, and between helping professionals and their clients can all be examined. General principles of human behavior, such as aggression theories, childhood socialization, defense mechanisms, role theory, verbal and nonverbal communication, and other themes can be introduced to support the basic framework.