Speaking out against hate speech and actions through social work research

In a recent report titled “Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief,” the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2021) stated,

There is a rising tide of incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence against persons based on religion or belief, both online and offline, often fueled by radical nationalist politics. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, an upsurge in hate speech and discrimination targeted at Jews, Muslims, Christians, Bahá’is and minority groups has been observed.

The report presents nation-states with a plan of action to address hate speech, however many, including the United States of America, grapple with limits to free speech that are imposed by such measures. Given the connection between hate speech and escalating violence (Moshman, 2020), this is a problem that must be solved not only for religious discrimination, but also for hate speech related to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability. The social work profession has much to offer to this goal. The Grand Challenges for Social Work identify core priorities around creating a just society that include addressing racism (Uehara et al., 2014), yet there is still work to do in the profession (Rao et al., 2021). Research is an area where social work can contribute toward social change.

This second issue of 2021 brings a focus on both discrimination based on religion and use of religious principles to discriminate against others. Carole Cox presents a thoughtful and timely piece on ways to address anti-Semitism in social work education. Donna Wang and Akiva Perlman explore the tensions between Orthodox Judaism and the social work profession. Mona Abo-Zena and Waheed Saif offer important guidance on addressing Islamophobia with children. Religious teachings regarding sexual orientation are explored with social work graduate students in thought-provoking research presented by Michael Woodford, Brittanie Atteberry-Ash, Ki Jaffee, and Adrienne Dessel. Mary Twis and Regina Praetorius offers us a unique window into well-meaning, yet flawed, conceptualizations of trafficked persons by evangelical Christian communities, and how they can thwart survivor-centered narratives. To balance these manuscripts out, Robert Chigangaidze offers an exposition of ubuntu philosophy as a path toward a more humanistic-existential approach in social work. I hope you find much food for thought in this issue.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.