Transformative learning and the development of cultural humility in social work students

ABSTRACT

Cultural humility is increasingly important in social work literature given its emphasis on mitigating power imbalances in helping relationships, particularly across cultural differences. Consequently, there is a need to understand whether and how cultural humility can be taught in social work education, both through traditional classroom instructions and cultural immersion programs. Guided by the Transformative Learning Theory (TLT) and relying on ethnographic observations and reflective journals, this study explores the process of developing cultural humility among 19 U.S. social work students who studied abroad in Ghana in the years 2016–2018. To summarise how the learning process required to develop cultural humility manifests at each of the TLT stages, we identified three major themes: 1) confusion and discomfort, 2) re-moulding, and 3) humility in action. Specifically, this process seems to depend on the experience of a disorienting dilemma, meaningful connections with others, and the ongoing readiness to function beyond one’s own cultural frame of reference. We suggest TLT can serve as a guide to social work educators and study abroad coordinators in planning, facilitating, and evaluating transformative learning experiences which can help students begin this life-long journey.

KEYWORDS:

• Social work education
• cultural humility
• transformative learning theory
• study abroad
• qualitative methods
• ethnographic observations

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ruilin Zhu

Ruilin Zhu is a Social Work (Honours) graduate from the University of Wollongong, Australia. This article is based on her Honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Katarzyna Olcoń. She is now a social worker serving multicultural communities in Australia and is passionate about empowerment and lifelong learning.

Katarzyna Olcoń

Katarzyna Olcoń is a Social Work lecturer in the School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Australia. This article is based on data collected during her doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research centers on critical multiculturalism and anti-racism in social work education and practice.

Rose M. Pulliam

Rose M. Pulliam is a clinical assistant professor in the School of Social Work at Texas State University. Her research interests include teaching anti-racism, disparities in health outcomes in Black populations, domestic and sexual violence, and international social work and social justice activism.

Dorie J. Gilbert

Dorie J. Gilbert is the dean of the Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. Her scholarly work centers on interdisciplinary and international social work, study abroad and service-learning in Africa, global health and mental health disparities among African-descent populations, and multicultural pedagogy.