Critical Reflexivity and Moral Regulation

ABSTRACT

Critical reflexivity is a dominant practice framework in social work. It is designed to address the operation of power relations between social workers and their clients. However, I intend to shed light on a different set of concerns related to this practice. I examine the ways in which critical reflexivity can operate to re-inscribe colonial notions of moral superiority, and re-center whiteness within social work education and practice settings. Drawing on research I conducted with racialized social workers in Toronto, Canada, this article examines the ways in which critical reflexivity can operate as a governing technology to silence the operation of racism.

KEYWORDS:

• Colonialism
• racialized social workers
• reflexivity
• whiteness

Notes

¹ The social workers interviewed for the study worked in a variety of practice settings, such as shelters, hospitals, schools, and community health centers. Of the 23 participants, 21 were women and two were men. The racial breakdown of participants was as follows: 12 South Asian, 5 Black, 2 Aboriginal, 3 Asian, 1 Middle Eastern.