Reflections on discrimination and oppression in contemporary social work practice in Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

This article draws on a study of awareness and sensitivity towards discrimination and oppression in contemporary practice in the Bulgarian social system through the perspectives of helping professionals and social clients. To that end, empirical data were gathered through a study of: the knowledge and awareness about anti-discrimination policy and legislation in the social sphere; awareness and perceptions of discrimination and oppression in society and the social work domain; and reflections on discrimination and oppression in the context of working relationships. Two questionnaires were designed and used to collect data in the period of April–May 2014 in the Southwestern region of Bulgaria. There were two groups consisting of 132 helping professionals (n = 132) and 121 clients/service users (n = 121). Both groups had low awareness of anti-discrimination legislation and regulations in the field of social policy and services. Discrimination and oppression were perceived as widespread phenomena that affected life of disadvantaged groups and also manifested in the social system. Ethnic minority service users needed information about their rights and community resources and claimed for larger involvement in the process of social work.

Абстракт

Статията се основава на проучване на информираността и чувствителността към дискриминацията и потисничеството в практиката на съвременната българска социална система през перспективата на помагащи специалисти и социални клиенти. За постигане на целта са събрани емпирични данни чрез изследване на: знанията и информираността относно антидискриминационната политика и законодателство в социалната сфера; осъзнаването и възприятията за дискриминация и потисничество както в обществото, така и в областта на социалната работа; отражението на дискриминацията и потисничеството в контекста на работните взаимоотношения. Съставени са два въпросника, които са използвани за събиране на данни в Югозападния регион на България в периода април–май 2014 г. Участват две групи, състоящи се от 132 помагащи специалисти (п = 132) и 121 клиенти/потребители на социални услуги (п = 121). И двете групи показват недостатъчна информираност по законови и подзаконови разпоредби за борба срещу дискриминацията в областта на социалната политика и социалните услуги. Дискриминацията и потисничество се възприемат като широко разпространени явления, които засягат живота на групите в неравностойно положение, като се проявават и в социалната система. Потребителите на услуги от етнически малцинствени общности се нуждаят от повече информация за своите права и за ресурсите в общността и настояват за по-голямо участие в процеса на социална работа.

KEYWORDS:

• Discrimination
• oppression
• empowerment

Ключови думи:

• дискриминация
• потисничество
• овластяване

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Maya Tcholakova is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medico-Social Sciences at South-West University ‘Neofit Rilski’, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. Her PhD is in Education. Currently, she supervises doctoral students and reads lectures at undergraduate and graduate programmes in Social Work. Her teaching and research are focused on issues of cultural diversity and social work, disabilities, anti-oppressive practice and empowerment. She has authored many publications and led several research projects related to the above topics. Since recently, she has been running a research project on the effectiveness of the innovative social-health services for children and adults with complex needs.

Viktoria Sotirova has a PhD in Sociology and currently works as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medico-Social Sciences at South-West University. Her research and teaching focuses on the issues of social protection and support delivered to various groups of beneficiaries, with an emphasis on those suffering from poverty and unemployment. She is also interested in counselling for individuals and families. She has participated in many national and international scientific projects and has authored and co-authored several monographs, many articles and conference papers in the field of social work.

Yoanna Tzvetanova has a PhD in Social Pedagogy from the South-West University ‘Neofit Rilski’. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medico-Social Sciences and teaches on topics related to social work with adults and people with disabilities in the system of social welfare services, social work with the elderly, and more. She is also responsible for the organization of placements for social work students. Her research interests are in the field of social work education, social work with older people, intercultural competence and international social work.

Notes

1 http://ifsw.org/get-involved/global-definition-of-social-work/.

2 Law on Social Assistance – Supplementary provisions – § 1, p. 9.

Additional information

Funding

This study was conducted under the project SRP – B 12/14 ‘Anti-oppressive aspects of social work (knowledge, attitudes, behavior of the helping professionals and social clients)’, financed by the Scientific Research Fund of the South-West University ‘Neofit Rilski’.