The personal is political: reframing individual acts of kindness as social solidarity in social work practice

ABSTRACT

This paper develops the theoretical position proposed by Zygmunt Bauman that one of the greatest contemporary ‘social evils' or injustices we face in society, is the total marketisation and individualisation of our lived experience. Bauman with Harvey, argues that the last forty years of social, political, and economic reform under the zeitgeist of neoliberalism have transferred the burden of care from the state to the individual. This paper will explore the position that the dominant neoliberal culture within social work, in the form of ‘new managerialism’ has reconstituted social work institutionally as one where interventions now focus on minimum statutory interventions emphasising; risk management, resource allocation, and audit culture. Despite the current landscape the research highlights the importance of the personal reframed as the political, and the nuanced ways in which acts of defiance and resistance against the prevailing orthodoxies have been adopted by social workers on the front line.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work practice
• new managerialism
• neoliberalism
• ethnography

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Darren Hill is the Reader in Social Work at Leeds Beckett University. Darren is a qualitative researcher who uses an ethnographic case study method; he favours direct observation, focus groups and interviews as data collection methods. Darren’s research interests include the exploration of the history of social work; with specific reference to its role and philosophy for practice within society. Darren has a particular interest in social relationships and critical theory within community based social work practice.

Erika Laredo is a Senior Lecturer Youth & Community Work at Leeds Beckett University. Erika is a qualitative researcher who uses an ethnographic case study method; She favours direct observation, focus groups and interviews as data collection methods. Erika’s research interests include marginalised communities; she currently volunteers and works within street-based services for sex workers. Erika has a particular interest in social relationships and critical theory within community work practice.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.