Social Work Theories

1. Feminist Theory
- Feminist theories developed out of the philosophy of the women’s movement or feminism (“an
awareness of women’s oppression and exploitation in society, at work and within the family, and
conscious action by women and men to change this situation.”) These theories resulted from the
view of many women that major personality theories have a strong sexist bias, such as
psychological concepts about sex differences that lead to gender stereotypes. Common
elements in these theories include a positive view of the female body and an emphasis on the
development of equal responsibility, talents, skills, and power in women.

- The feminist perspective has much in common with the conflict perspective and
throughout this course, we will typically discuss feminist theory alongside conflict theory,
although many consider it deserving of its own classification. Whereas conflict
theory focuses broadly on the unequal distribution of power and resources, feminist
sociology studies power in its relation to gender. This topic is studied both within social
structures at large (at the macro level) and also at the micro level of face-to-face
interaction. Because of this micro level study, feminist theory is sometimes grouped with
symbolic interactionism. Feminist scholars study a range of topics, including sexual
orientation, race, economic status, and nationality. However, at the core of feminist
sociology is the idea that, in most societies, women have been systematically
oppressed and that men have been historically dominant. This is referred to as
patriarchy.

- I relate this theory feminist to the association where I assigned. The sector that I
assigned is the women’s association which all women’s are members, they do activities
like livelihood projects just to survive for their daily life. As a woman, we need to fight
until we can. Not only for man to do jobs, but all women can do it. All women have a
power to do it by their own. We should have equality.

3. System Theory
- System theory is complex and social workers are not expected to understand and use all its
concepts including its elaborate jargon. Social workers, however, can apply concepts and jargon
that relate to human system which are now widely used in social sciences.
- System theory provides social work with a tool for analyzing and organizing data about clients,
and offers many options for intervention. The use of a system model as a conceptual model for
practice allows social workers to focus their attention on the person-situation/environment
interrelatedness, thereby avoiding the tendency to think of the individual or society as the cause
of problems and therefore, the primary target of change.
 - I relate this theory to the field, because system theory relates much to my field, in
community organizing, we conduct problem analysis which we tackle about the causes
and effects of the problem in the association. My target for the association is to
implement a project that they want to do. As social work intern it involves taking into
account many factors of an individual’s life. While there are many theories in social work,
systems theory is a unique way of addressing human behavior in terms of these multi-
layered relationships and environments. This theory is premised on the idea that an
effective system is based on individual needs, rewards, expectations, and attributes of
the people living in the system. That’s why I relate this theory on the field.

4. Structural- Functionalism Theory

- Functionalism, also called structural-functional theory, sees society as a structure with
interrelated parts designed to meet the biological and social needs of the individuals in
that society. Functionalism grew out of the writings of English philosopher and biologist,
Hebert Spencer (1820–1903), who saw similarities between society and the human
body; he argued that just as the various organs of the body work together to keep the
body functioning, the various parts of society work together to keep society functioning
(Spencer 1898). The parts of society that Spencer referred to were the social
institutions, or patterns of beliefs and behaviors focused on meeting social needs, such
as government, education, family, healthcare, religion, and the economy.
- Durkheim believed that individuals may make up society, but in order to study society,
sociologists have to look beyond individuals to social facts. Social facts are the laws,
morals, values, religious beliefs, customs, fashions, rituals, and all of the cultural rules
that govern social life (Durkheim 1895). Each of these social facts serves one or more
functions within a society. For example, one function of a society’s laws may be to
protect society from violence, while another is to punish criminal behavior, while another
is to preserve public health.

- I relate this theory to the field because this theory talks about more in my field
experience. Which the area I assigned needs more actions which the association
can work together to solve their problems and needs to their society. Where the
association has focused on their needs of the women’s. The structural-
functionalism theory, if the society can work together as team the society will
functioned very well. That’s all matters in our field, if I do my job as a good social
work intern, the association that I handle will be develop and functioned very
well.
 4. Communication Theory
- Interactions between and among human systems involve communication. Communication is
the process of transferring and sharing messages and meanings through the use of symbols
like words, gestures, and sounds. Social workers, engaged in helping relationships with
individuals, families, groups or communities, need to understand the elements of the
interpersonal communication process.

1. Source -the origin of the message

Ex. Some person or group with a purpose for engaging in communication.
2. Message – the idea that is communicated.
3. Channel- the means by which a message is transmitted from the source to the
receiver
Ex. Oral, written, or body language.
4. Receiver – the target of communication who interprets the message being
transmitted.
5. Effects- the changes occurring in the receiver as a result of the transmission of the
message.
Ex. Changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior
6. Feedback- information that comes back to the sender and tells him how his message
is being received which can guide his further communication and repair any damage
that may have taken place.

- I relate this theory to the field because, through communications we can easily
communicate what will be our projects and plans to their association, it really helps for
me to communicate them very well through verbal and cellphone, especially its
pandemic, it’s not necessarily to have a face-to-face communication just for important
purposes only. For nowadays, we need to be double safety.