Postmodern feminism: a theoretical framework for a field unit with women in jail

Abstract

This article presents a postmodern, feminist framework as a foundation for a social work student field unit with women inmates in the corrections system. Feminist pedagogical methods were developed and implemented for this field unit and, once trained, the students utilized feminist social work skills within the jail environment. The case study illustrates the field unit design, student learning processes, and examples of student interventions. In addition to becoming skillful clinicians, student interns became social change agents within the corrections system. Implications for micro, meso, and macro levels of social work practice are discussed.

Keywords:

• Social Work Education
• Feminist
• Fieldwork
• Criminal Justice System
• Teaching Models

Notes

Correspondence to: Elizabeth C. Pomeroy, Associate Professor, BSW Program Director, or Lori K. Holleran, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78712, USA. Tel.: +1‐512‐232‐3405 or +1‐512‐232‐9330; Risa Kiam, Director of Field Education, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth C. Pomeroy

Correspondence to: Elizabeth C. Pomeroy, Associate Professor, BSW Program Director, or Lori K. Holleran, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin, School of Social Work, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78712, USA. Tel.: +1‐512‐232‐3405 or +1‐512‐232‐9330; Risa Kiam, Director of Field Education, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA.