Knowing Nothing: Understanding New Critical Social Work Practice

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Journal of Applied Hermeneutics July 17, 2013 The Author(s) 2013 Knowing Nothing: Understanding New Critical Social Work Practice

Cynthia J. Gallop

Abstract

Individuals embarking on their journey to become professional social workers often state they feel as if they know nothing upon entering their practice. Regardless of the number of years critical social workers have practiced, they are also thought to know “nothing.” By utilizing a philosophical hermeneutic approach I chose to recognize that new critical social work ideas, theories and practices come from something and somewhere (Moules, 2002). This hermeneutic study involved interviewing six newly graduated social workers with a declared critical orienta- tion. I asked these budding new professionals to describe what happens when they begin working in organizations that may or may not support a critical ideology and how this influences their practice. Hermeneutic interpretations of the participant experiences suggest that this nothing is not devoid of meaning or method, but instead involves insinuating themselves and their ideas into their agencies in a delicate curvilinear manner.

Keywords critical social work practice, hermeneutics, research, social work practice

Exploring Nothing educational institution could say this about the individuals she sends out the door. Why One day while discussing my proposed did we have these institutions if not to teach doctoral project with a university instructor these new recruits something? Yet, I recog- and colleague, she asked me why I would nized a truth to which she spoke. want to study the experiences of students or new graduates; “they know nothing,” she said. Individuals embarking on their journeys to This word stayed with me for several weeks. become professional social workers often It buried itself under my skin and wriggled about my consciousness. Over and over, I Corresponding Author: asked myself how someone who works in an Cynthia J. Gallop, PhD Email: [email protected]

2 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article state they feel as if they know nothing upon What became very clear to me after embark- entering their practicums, and later their ing on this research journey is that reality is practice. I have also heard this said about not constructed ex nihilo but rather construct- critical social workers because the theories ed from something. The form, organization, are thought to be difficult to operationalize. and something became my concern (Pozzuto, Critical social work practice involves adopt- Dezendorf, & Arnd-Caddigan, 2006) for my ing a political perspective and lies in the work doctoral research. Still, I recognize that there of Karl Marx, Antonio Gramsci, the Frankfurt is a substance to “nothing” that makes it School theorists, feminist theorists, and difficult to articulate. I wanted to better critical pedagogy theorist Paulo Freire. Over understand why some forms of knowledge the years, the term critical has come to define and practice are seen as something, and yet a number of distinct approaches, such as for some, critical practice might be seen as radical, structural, feminist, anti-racist, and offering newly graduated social workers anti-oppressive social work practice. As Fook “nothing.” This paper is taken from one noted “…critical social work, as a coherent chapter of a doctoral work that attempted to term, has only been used more explicitly in understand both the nothing and the some- the last few years, mostly in literature from thing of non-mainstream approaches to social Canada (e.g. Rossiter, 1996) and Australia work practice. In it, I found myself asking (e.g. Ife, 1997)” (2002, p. 124). In Canada, these questions: How might we understand critical social work theory and practice is how newly graduated social workers educated closely identified with structural approaches in a critical tradition experience their prac- developed by Carniol (1979, 2005), Moreau tice? What happens to these budding profes- (1979), Moreau and Leonard (1989), Mullaly sionals when they begin working in organiza- (1993), and Rossiter (1996). Critical ap- tions that may or may not support a critical proaches to social work practice attempt to ideology? Do they end up pulling back into integrate professional social work values reserve and silence? Do they acquiesce and within personal, social, and political contexts become like-minded, or do they find new (Haynes, 1999). This approach to social work ways to practice that simply have not been practice questions the validity of pathology- captured by the research literature? based social work perspectives and theories, and focuses on the oppressions that cause the Given that mainstream social work and private troubles or pathologies (Rossiter, critical social work are informed by profound- 1996). Because of their suspicion and limited ly different ontological, epistemological, and use of therapeutic models, graduates of political assumptions (Campbell & Baikie, critical schools are sometimes believed to be 2012), the tension between these divergent poorly prepared to directly improve their understandings has also shaped the practice of clients’ situation, compared to their clinical or social work. However, the growing neoliberal generalist social work colleagues (Sakamoto momentum toward theories and practices that & Pitner, 2005). bring order, predictability, and cohesion to our profession has begun to tip the balance in Regardless of what individuals call them- the social work profession in a manner that selves upon graduation - critical, generalist, or has had many in the field questioning who we clinical - they are all definitely seeking are, and what we actually do. “something.” The word nothing originates from the Old English word naping, which Neoliberalism, which first began as a po- means “not one thing” (“Nothing,” 2001). litical economic practice, proposes that

3 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article human well being is best advanced by liberat- For any way of thought to become domi- ing individual entrepreneurial freedoms and nant, and believed to be the only viable course skills (Harvey, 2005). In post-secondary of action, it must appeal to our intuitions and institutions, neoliberal practices include a instincts, to our values and our desires, as curriculum focused on competency based well as to the possibilities inherent in the practice approaches over theoretical practice, social world we inhabit (Harvey, 2005). It the marginalization of practicum or field then becomes so embedded in common sense, education programs, and an increasing it is taken for granted and not open to ques- division between academia and the field tion (Harvey, 2005). Any thoughts or actions (Morley & Dunstan, 2013). Direct social that fall outside this dominant belief will work practice in a neoliberal context includes eventually fade away to nothing. Although an overall devaluing of social work our overall profession claims social justice knowledge and skills, and a preference for and human rights are the ideological under- hierarchical relationships between service pinnings of good social work practice, too users and workers over collaborative relation- many social service organizations have ships. It includes privileging technical skills become so far removed from the ethics of over structural analytic frameworks social work practice that they are unable to (Dominelli, 1996; Healy & Meagher, 2004; adequately support the staff, management, Singh & Cowden, 2009). This neoliberal and students who desperately yearn to make environment also influences organizational changes. While institutions themselves are not practices by insisting on open competition in practices, they embody them, nurture them, the allocation of funding to services in order and sustain them (Chan, Chi, Ching, & Lam, to encourage leaner and more effective 2010). programs (Healy & Meagher, 2004). Most importantly, adopting a neoliberal ideology Much of our meaning making in the West- and framework has meant the field’s move ern world involves characterizing things as away from emancipatory change toward an much by what is lacking or absent as by what increase in governmentality and economics is present (“Nothing,” 2008). Nothing can (Healy, 2009; Jones, 2005; Madhu, 2011). also serve as a marker for the absence of something. Some might say newly graduated The theories that have become dominant students lack knowledge, or they lack a in social work lend themselves to a neoliberal certain amount of skepticism. They have not understanding of social work practice by been hardened off to the realities of real social legitimizing this practice. Theories such as work. Some pundits argue critical social work cognitive and behavioral, social learning, and does not seem to relate to those things that are attachment theories are all derived from valued as real. I began to wonder if what is empirical research (Olsen, 2007) and, as such, missing is the lack of Freire’s concept of hope. appear to be predictable and reliable. They are These students may lack the pessimism, and believed to help social workers really “know” the deterministic attitude that things can never the problem they are addressing, as well as improve. Perhaps what is not there in these the solution. As such, they are becoming new professionals is the despair that we re- embodied in our professional psyche as label burnout. “common sense.” Currently, this approach to practice appears to be the only thing that counts as something.

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Re-Discovering Nothing neutics is a form of inquiry that embraces tension, because it recognizes anxiety, stress, Similarly to critical social work, philosophical and strain as parts of a potentially transforma- hermeneutics can be a difficult and unwilling tive process. Using a philosophical hermeneu- concept to define. However, Moran (2000) tic approach to research helped me explore described it, and Gadamer’s (1900-2002) the gaps that exist in our critical education contribution, fairly succinctly by stating and practice; the gaps between what newly “hermeneutics is the art of interpretation or graduated critical social workers know and understanding, and, for Gadamer, always what they can accomplish. Becoming and signifies an ongoing, never completable being are never ending journeys in hermeneu- process of understanding, rooted in human tics. It is always double-pointed, to what was finitude and human linguisticality” (p. 248). I and what will be, and encourages us to look specifically chose to use a hermeneutic beyond ourselves (Davey, 2006). research method because it aspires to understand the everyday meaning of lived experi- For this study, I chose to target new grad- ences (Bosma, 2011). It is a research practice uates from schools who have a mission and that attempts to uncover both the differences mandate that incorporates a critical social and commonalities of lived experiences work framework. Although there are a (Benner, 1994), and helps us discover all number of social work schools in Canada that aspects of what those experiences are like offer varying types of critical social work (van Manen, 1997). Even though it is often programs, I chose to narrow my focus to two assumed to be part of the technical-rational schools: Carleton University and the Univer- approach, practical knowledge is based on sity of Victoria. In addition to having mission practice experience, which is co-created statements and mandates that encompass a (Pozzuto et al, 2006). As such, practice critical framework, Bob Mullaly (2007), a theories may also be viewed as stories of well-known Canadian critical social work cultural interpretation (Rossiter, 2005). We theorist, identified these schools as being interpret our lifeworld within the boundaries critical and/or structural in their curriculum of what we know and what we believe can be content and focus. done. This criticality encourages us to look beyond what we believe we already know, Individuals who graduated with a Bache- and what we believe to be true. Philosophical lor of Social Work (BSW) degree within the hermeneutics is a form of research practice last three years, who self-identified as critical that attempts to reclaim and retrieve the and were practicing from a structural and/or humanist approach to understanding, which anti-oppressive perspective were invited to includes an emphasis on rhetoric, judgement, speak to me about their experiences in the and common sense. “…This kind of under- field. I contacted individuals at both institu- standing comes not in the form of scientific tions in charge of the alumni and student explanation (Erklärung) but as cultural communication list, and asked them to understanding (Verstehen)” (Moran, 2000, p. forward my recruitment poster through their 280). email listserve. I received two participants using this technique from the University of New graduates are different from social Victoria. Unfortunately, this strategy was not workers who have been in the field for a successful at Carleton University. I acquired number of years. New graduates are also the remainder of my participants by contact- different from students. Philosophical herme- ing colleagues working in either a university

5 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article or human service setting and through referrals if I became too dogmatic in my beliefs I from my current participants. I received two would not be open to new understandings participants through referrals from social (Lawn, 2006). I made a point of letting each work colleagues, and I received two other participant know during the interview that, participants through referrals from current although I consider myself a critical social participants. worker, it has been a long time since I have been a newly graduated one. I also let them As a critical social worker, professor, and know that this project was not meant to researcher, I entered this study as an active determine whether critical social work works, knower within the critical social work field. I or does not work. Instead, I explained as am also female, educated, middle-income, a openly and honestly as I could that I wanted mother, and also formerly a child who, to hear what they had to say about this topic, similarly to some of my study participants, even if they might say something which with knew what it was like to grow up in poverty I did not expect or agree. Being reflexive and want more from the world. Since it was allows us to be open to dialogue at times not possible for me to ignore my past experi- when there may not have been an opportunity ence and understandings or pretend they did before (Ringel, 2003). not exist, I needed to keep them at the fore- front of my awareness. As such, it was I was very fortunate in finding three male important to ensure I used a process that and three female social work graduates who involved writing my thoughts, feelings, and had been educated in a critical tradition eager apprehensions in a journal as they arose. to share their thoughts and experiences with Immediately after every interview, I wrote me. With the exception of one participant memos on how I felt the interview went. In who was in his mid thirties at the time of our these memos, I wrote my reactions to our interview, all of the new graduates who conversation and whether I was surprised, volunteered for this research project were in unsettled, or delighted by something the their early to late twenties. Three participants, participant had said. two male and one female, were graduates from the University of Victoria, and three The use of reflexivity also involves ac- participants, two female and one male, were knowledging the researcher’s voice, but not graduates from Carleton University. Two of putting it before the participants (Leitz, the six participants from Carleton had recent- Langur, & Furman, 2006). My professional ly completed their Master’s of Social Work position as an experienced social worker and from a noncritical university in Ontario. One professor meant that my vantage point of this graduate from the University of Victoria went topic could be quite different from that of the back to complete her master’s thesis at the participants. I was aware that this position University of Victoria during this study. could be a hindrance, since my participants Although they all described different reasons could see my knowledge and experience as for choosing a critical social work program, having priority over their experiences and every participant stated they practiced from a understandings. I knew I needed to create an critical theoretical perspective, and to varying environment where the interview experience degrees believed in the approach. All six allowed my participants to really say some- participants were working either part-time or thing to me. I did not want to overlook their full-time in the field at the time of the inter- claims, or attempt to assimilate them into views. The breadth of practice experiences mine (Schwandt, 1999) and I recognized that was quite diverse given the small number of

6 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article participants. The new graduates worked in In response to each social worker I inter- government and non-governmental organiza- viewed, and the subsequent unfolding of the tions, small grassroots agencies and large inquiry, I managed to slightly alter my bureaucracies. The participants occupied question sequence, and introduce two addi- frontline, community-based, policy, and tional questions. By the time I interviewed my international positions. They also worked in last participant, I had changed the sequence of children’s services, mental health, and the two of my questions, and included two disability fields. additional questions around the participants’ own personal stories and reasons for choosing Data Gathering a critical school. I made these changes deliberately, and with great care. I was The data gathered for this research included acutely aware that good interviewing in a eight audiotaped interviews and eight partici- hermeneutic study involves a careful balance pant emails. Six of the emails were received between staying focused on the original intent from each of the six participants prior to each of the inquiry, but not so focused that the interview. Each note sent by a participant practice becomes a routinized method, rather contained an acknowledgement of interest in than a practice of understanding (Binding & the project, as well as a brief reflective Tapp, 2008). statement as to why he or she had something to contribute to this topic. Two pieces of data Data Analysis were follow-up emails sent by participants who, upon further reflection after our inter- Hermeneutic analysis is in itself an encounter. views, wanted to share some of their thoughts Although the actual practice is difficult to or insights. Although a majority of my communicate (Addison, 1999), getting into participants did not live in Calgary, I was the hermeneutic circle has been aptly de- fortunate enough to be able to personally sit scribed as an organic and iterative process with each of them for at least one interview. (Bosma, 2011) of focusing on the whole and the part. I approached my interviews according to the word’s original etymology, as someone Being in the circle is disciplined yet crea- entering new territory (“Interview,” 2001). tive, rigorous yet expansive….In this pro- Dialogue is not predictable (Lawn, 2006). cess there is a focus on recognizing the Because it is unrehearsed, I had no way to particular, isolating understandings, dia- decide in advance which effort would keep loguing with others about interpretations, me from going in a direction that may not making explicit the implicit, and, eventu- serve the topic the best (Schwandt, 1999). ally finding language to describe language. Although I originally developed eight ques- (Moules, 2000, p. 47) tions that focused on the original intent of this inquiry, I remained mindful that much of the My analysis began with listening to each success of this study rode on my skill as an interview and making notes. I then listened to interviewer. The majority of the probes I the tapes again once I had the transcriptions. I employed could not be determined in advance, reflected on the spoken words, the subtle and were instead developed over the course of pauses and lengthy silences. I also focused on the conversation (Koch, 1996). I also could the laughter. I wrote my thoughts and my not predict, in a semi-structured interview, impressions. Once an idea or speculation where each participant might take the topic. surfaced, I would begin to journal my newly

7 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article forming thoughts. As an idea or word understanding, and the literature’s under- emerged that made me take note, I would also standing. I used mythology and etymology to discuss it with colleagues and sometimes turn help me turn these words into richer meanings. to the literature to explore it further. I read and listened to each transcript in isolation. I Establishing Authority, Trust, also read them in relation to other transcripts. and Credibility To be clear, this back and forth between different tapes and transcripts was not meant Authority does not come from our position; it to find themes. Instead, it was my attempt to comes from what we bring to the relationship “…bring forth general impressions, specific (Gadamer, 1975/1989). It is the questions we and recurring ideas, and perturbing and bring and the things we open up that give us distinctive resonances, familiarities and authority (Lawn, 2006). Ultimately, I can only echoes” (Moules, 2000, p. 46). I was looking ensure the authority and trust of my readers if for a revelation, a striking disclosure that I am able to achieve a plausible interpretation, surprised and unsettled me (“Revelation,” namely, providing enough contextual infor- 2001). I was seeking an experience that drew mation in my writings that others are able to my attention to the unique (Lawn, 2006). make similar readings (Koch, 1996). The findings of this project should speak to people, Interpretive Writing and make them consider things in a new way that they previously understood differently. The process of making something foreign or To achieve this goal, I followed a process that forgotten understandable is achieved through included keeping a reflexive journal (Koch, the interpretive writing process. Interpretive 1996), and I solicited feedback and engaged writing has been described as an exaggeration in hermeneutic conversations with my inter- of what it wants to be heard (Moules, 2000; pretive doctoral colleagues and mentors D.G. Smith, 1991). To exaggerate is to “heap, (Koch, 1996). These conversations were very pile, load, fill,” to bring together, and carry helpful. They pushed me further into the toward (“Exaggerate,” 2001). It is the process hermeneutic circle by helping me uncover of making our words weightier and stronger interpretations I had not yet considered so that we may more readily pay attention to (Plager, 1994). In addition, I conducted them. It is a practice that involves creating follow-up interviews with participants to meaning, rather than reporting meaning. clarify and expand on my developing interpretations. Sometimes these inquiries were Similar to the analysis process of reading fruitless and led me in the wrong direction. and listening, interpretive writing involves a However, I recognized, as researchers, we circular movement where one action begins to must be willing to go backwards and make uncover then build upon another. After mistakes, and trust that this process may at listening to audio-tapes, reading text, and some point keep us from going in the wrong consulting peers and mentors, I began to take direction (Gardner, 2006). All of these my memos and my notes and turn them into activities helped me be mindful that I was interpretive text. I found particular addresses researching what I intended, and that my in the transcripts and then explored them findings reflected the original research further, in classical literature, and research question and purpose (Binding & Tapp, 2008). literature. I took these words and began to tie them together by moving back and forth In some forms of qualitative research, between my participant’s understanding, my consulting participants at the analysis stage to

8 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article see if the interpretations reflect their original deceitful manipulation (“Insinuate Oneself meaning ensures credibility. The quest to Into,” n.d.). Yet, insinuate is the word one of recapture the original meaning has obvious the new social workers from this study chose benefits in that it leads us to assume there can when describing his efforts to practice in a be one correct meaning. However, the diffi- critical way. Once I investigated the original culty with this theory is that it has not been etymology of the word, I actually found it able to adequately explain the history of more fitting. It dates back to the sixteenth competing interpretations that have existed, century and means to “bring in by windings and continue to exist in the world. As such, and curvings.” It is the “entrance through a this validation strategy is questioned in narrow way, an ingratiating of oneself” hermeneutic research and was not used in the (“Insinuate,” n.d.). study. Rather than attempting to reproduce meaning, hermeneutics focuses on co- The word insinuate is also connected to producing it. Instead, credibility can be snakes and serpents. Snakes have the potential attained by allowing other readers to view the for great destruction. Their ability to remain responses, not to provide an expert evaluation concealed for long periods of time, and then of truth, but as an opportunity to open the strike without warning, inspires fear in many, circle from the narrowness of my vision and not just their prey. The forked-tongue, which preunderstandings. This approach to credibil- allows them to find and track their victims ity honours the hermeneutic conviction that (Schwenk, 1994), is also used as an analogy all questions can be answered differently, and to speak untruthfully or deceitfully (“With these differences are generative in nature Forked Tongue,” n.d.). However, the snake’s (Moules, 2000). It also reinforces the herme- story is not entirely one of surreptitious neutic belief that violence. Because of its ability to shed its skin in the spring, a snake also depicts rebirth. As Understanding is an adventure and, like with most disasters, there is always an oppor- any other adventure, is dangerous. Be- tunity for renewal. Consequently, the serpent cause it is not satisfied with simply want- is an ambivalent image, depicting both ing to register what is there or said there destruction and violence, or rebirth and but goes back to our guiding interests and renewal (Knox, 1950). As such, it is often questions, one has to concede that the used as “the figure for the animistic recovery hermeneutical experience has a far lower of a larger consciousness” (S. Smith, 1991, p. degree of certainty than that attained by 202). What has been recovered in this study is the methods of the natural sciences. (Gad- an understanding that practicing in a critical amer, 1997/2007, pp. 243-244) way is no longer simply seen as an experience of rising up and striking down. Instead, a new Interpretations of Nothing understanding of emancipatory practice is emerging. To Insinuate Oneself It is that I really had to think differently To “insinuate oneself” typically has a nega- about the role of leadership – of existing tive connotation in Western society, as it is leadership and existing power structures – often thought of in terms of something in affecting structural changes…Like I deceptive or unscrupulous. According to the think that when I first learned about this Oxford dictionary, to insinuate oneself means stuff, like I kind of thought there would be to gain a more favorable position through … like clients or like front line workers

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rising up and, like, taking the reins of the the problem of totalitarianism, and believed system and making all the changes and that it would only be possible in a modern everything, but the more of it I meet, like society if “…everything – including our sense … I don’t meet very many clients in this of reality – is managed” (Moran, 2000, p. job, I more meet front line workers, and 299). Arendt believed language becomes a the more obvious it is that they are like … powerful tool in the maintenance of the status even the most dedicated and passionate quo through the use of rhetoric. Because it ones are really struggling just to like, to relies on the art of persuasion, rhetoric is the get through their big, thick work load, you ability to generate belief without knowledge. know?...And like, even the ones who It also has the capacity to organize and probably identify structural or like take discipline disparate individuals and groups the AOP [Anti-Oppressive Practice] stuff (Fontana, 2005). As such, Arendt was very to heart, they talk like extensively about concerned with spin-doctors and speech how difficult it is to put these things into manipulated by corporations in order to practice and find … like find footholds dominate our public space (Tremblay, 2003). and get support within their organization Although Western nations pride themselves beyond lip service... on their dedication to freedom and democracy for every individual, in reality we may not be This understanding of practice involves new as unshackled as we believe. critical social workers finding various footholds and slowly insinuating their theories Curving and Winding: Deconstructing and and practice into conservative ideology and Reconstructing Discourse practices that are also insinuating. Like Arendt, Gadamer also spoke of rhetoric Destruction and Violence: Neoliberalism as and common sense, sensus communis, how- an Insinuating Practice ever, Gadamer did not see these concepts as completely negative. Instead, Gadamer A part of the philosophical hermeneutic defended rhetoric by reminding his audiences project is to study how things in the world that it has been a part of our social life since appear and at the same time are covered up. the days of Plato and the Sophists, when The Greek referred to this study of reality and persuasion and public speaking were art truth as Aletheia. It is the dis-closing, un- forms. These were the days when rhetoric was covering, and dis-covering that which has part of a culture that created new and im- been concealed. It is both the hiding and the portant understandings. As such, Gadamer revealing of the things themselves (Moran, approached both common sense and rhetoric 2000). Understanding the insinuating nature as necessary in the development of a commu- of domination and oppression is also an nity (Krajewski, 1992), in that community is exercise in re-discovery. Hannah Arendt, a “…built not by the ‘true’ but by discussions student of Martin Heidegger and Karl Jaspers, of the ‘probable,’ and rhetoric deals in the and a contemporary of Hans-Georg Gadamer, ‘probable’ when proof is unavailable or was deeply impacted by the totalitarianism inadequate” (Krajewski, 1992, p. 346). and destruction of the first half of the twenti- eth century. Arendt proposed that philosophy The underlying assumption in Gadamer’s emerges from the discrepancy between the rhetoric is that both actors enter into a genu- world of appearances and the medium of ine discourse, and no one person is meant to words that support thinking. She discussed control the conversation. To be involved in

10 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article this type of genuine dialogue requires both a “Oh no, I can physically get up and show- stance of indebtedness and critique, as well as er. Yes, I physically can make dinner.” trust and acceptance (Moran, 2000). This And I am, “Yah, no, that is not what they becomes problematic when individuals and are asking,” right? I get them to fill in the groups in positions of authority and power form but I make sure and I help them to introduce jargon and euphemisms into the understand, “Well no, what they want to conversation. When doublespeak becomes know is your depression or anxiety so de- part of the dialogue, the potential for a bilitating that you are just not able to”? genuine event of understanding is eliminated, And they are like, “Oh, well, yes,” and as is the possibility for transformation. The then they can answer that question. They Oxford dictionary defines doublespeak as are not lying and I am not telling them to “deliberately euphemistic, ambiguous, or lie, I am just helping them re-understand obscure language” (“Doublespeak,” n.d.). It is or better understand the question. the communicative art of being able to appear non-influencing, while being influencing What the participant has also just demon- (Epstein, 1999). strated is Fook’s (2002) description of transla- tion. This is a practice where “workers might One of the new critical social workers in see part of their role as transforming bureau- this study appeared to understand his practice cratic culture by valuing and translating in terms of an Aristotelian tradition of rhetoric. between different discourses” (pp. 147-148). He definitely had an opinion, and wished to It is the practice of naming different terms or convince the service user of his thoughts and categories in order to alert people (in this case views. However, his practice was still an a service user) to different perspectives (Fook, invitation in that he had made it accessible to 2002). This new social worker became the the Other by un-covering and re-vealing the interpreter by un-covering and re-vealing the underlying meaning of the document they doublespeak that was driving a bureaucratic were studying. agenda. At the same time, he was engaging in a dialogue that has the potential to create a …And so my role as advocate really be- new understanding of what it means to be comes explaining in more accessible lan- someone living with depression, as opposed guage for clients what their rights might to someone who is diagnosed as depressed. be… I will help explain – what my under- This understanding moves beyond the beliefs standing of what [the government organi- held by the bureaucratic agency that created zation] is asking for, and what is this the mental health checklist. question really trying to get at? This question is basically wanting to know whether Curving and Winding: Creating Space or not your depression affects your ability to shower every day, and to what degree. In addition to concentrating on language and Which most people don’t understand, and systems of oppression, a great deal of Hannah they read the way the questions are word- Arendt’s work focused on the possibility of ed – and the same with the Disability Tax creating space for action. For Arendt, the Credit and a lot of the other things I help term action referred to the activities of people with – it is really worded with the humans that can only be conducted once the assumption of someone having a physical demands of life have been met, such as a ability and applying for these things, not stable world within which they can achieve having a mental health disability. And so, both group identity and solidarity (Dietz,

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1994). It is the collective condition where action are those who want to make a new individuals are dependent on one another in beginning (Moran, 2000). order to achieve their true existence. Similar to Gadamer’s requirements for having a Critical social work students are taught genuine conversation, action is an activity that the importance of attempting to understand comes from without and, as such, can only and create this democratic area. They are exist in the world with others (Williams, taught that their job requires more than just 1998). It represents the activities needed to inquiring into someone’s life (Chambon, fend off our rising alienation (Dietz, 1994). 1999). Transformative knowledge and practice is meant to disturb commonly held beliefs Arendt was very concerned with how and ways of doing. This action of creating modern society limits or restricts the space democratic space involves engaging in a required to achieve action (Moran, 2000). As practice of working within and against the such, Arendt wrote considerably about the rules. The winding and curving of critical need for citizenship and participation in social work practice is an attempt to create the democracy, which in Greek is known as polis. space to maneuver in the real world. It is the “For Arendt the Greek Polis opened a space space through which to negotiate the hege- where humans could freely interact with one monic and destructive forces. As many know, another” (Moran, 2000, p. 312). It is the space organizational change is never easy. However, between people, or the condition that is this new social worker described his practice needed for democracy and human freedom. It of creating opportunities for new understand- is the space where an emancipatory action ing at the management level of different may appear, and be recognized by the public human services agencies. (Moran, 2000). And they had a webinar for senior man- Over the years, our polis, our space that agers and they were using my research in exists between people and groups, has been the thing which was really cool and really reducing in size. In reality there is very little nice to see them, like quoting sentences, space left in the field of social work, just so that is nice. But yah, folks said they re- enough for technical fixes. The limited space ally found it helpful and picked up ideas, has also made it more likely that the social you know? Every once in a while I will get work profession will focus on individual a newsletter from an agency or a set of problems. When an individual who is seeking agencies that are merging and they will support is given the messages “‘you can do it, say, “Look, we read your thing and this is you can have it, it is up to you to pull yourself what we came up with.” together to get the skills, to learn the stuff, get on with our life, do it!’” (Epstein, 1999, p. 10), He was also able to create some space in his there is very little room for democratic action. own small, but growing organization. Given the limited space to exercise citizenship and democratic participation, Arendt was Now we are a very small organization and acutely aware that not everyone is capable of I was the third employee they hired – they action, since it involves risk. This is the “real are only about four years old – so I’m world” box that many of us, at various stages currently working with a consultant to of our lives and practice, find ourselves in. write all our organizational policies be- Instead, individuals who are inclined toward cause we don’t have any policies yet, because until a couple of years ago it was

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all being run out of my boss’ living room. mouus thinking” (p. 72). It involves practi- Yah! It was like a very small …And they tioners constructing the self as the binary … so I have been trying to work like equi- opposite of the other. This type of thinking ty based policies into the policy frame- can be quite harmful since it divides us all work so the organization has some… You into enemies and allies. As noted by the know, it is a small thing, like three people, participant below, he appeared to understand but I think that is good to try to … try to the need to avoid oppositional thinking. … because that is going to be the institu- Despite some of the critical social work tional memory to some degree, so I have rhetoric he faced while in school, he managed been able to insinuate myself into kind of to elude understanding his practice as an us a critical junction in the organizational versus them, or bottom versus top approach. development. Yah, so I have been trying to Instead, he focused on searching for the slip ideas that I think are really important opportunity for a slight transformation. Often into the framework… So I will say, “Hey, the movement is small, a slight twist or bend. what about this? Should we do this? It is almost imperceptible. Should we have some kind of socially re- sponsible investment policy?” And he will … Well I guess another bias that I picked say, “Yah, why not? Let’s do that.” up at [the critical school] was like an aversion to marketing and like anything This participant was able to insinuate his that has to deal with the business side of critical ideas at an opportune time in other social service stuff. I had a prof who was organizations and his own. Specifically, he really, really good at it – the prof I had at was able to create space for critical ideas by [a non critical social work program] was identifying parts of the organizational system really good –…Something she was really that were open to influence. In the business big on was marketing your skills as a so- community, this is called a high impact cial worker, and really taking that step to strategy, which is meant to overcome organi- brand yourself essentially…Now this was zational apathy and inertia (Godkin & Allcorn, like in the context of health social work or 2008). He understood that it was important to places where social workers are like act now while the organization is small and guests in the system, like hospitals. still developing. To wait meant his organiza- And…like, a lot of people don’t know why tion might be at risk of developing a policy we are at hospitals and a lot of staff at memory that is solely focused on neoliberal hospitals don’t really understand why so- ideology. cial workers are there. And from what I understand there is a lot of, like, I guess, Curving and Winding: Approaching from there is just a lot of tension. And social the Bottom and the Top workers often feel like they have to justify why they are there and that brings a lot of Because there is such a strong focus on social resentment, I guess…Yah, so her whole justice in the critical social work field, there thing was if you are going to be in a place can be a risk for those practicing in the field like that you can’t expect, you know, like a to assume the moral high ground, and concep- doctor who is given all the power and all tualize critical practice as a war in which the glory to just get why you are there. there are only two sides, those who are in And you have to like, actively identify favor of social change, and those who oppose people who don’t get it and who are pow- it. This is what Fook (2002) called “dichoto- erful and like, get them on your side, you

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know? Show them why you are valuable in Rebirth and Renewal: Shedding terms that they can understand why you are valuable, which is really like a kind of Rarely is destruction seen as a positive or … it is using all your social work skills in hope(ful) proposition. However, Hannah a professional context, right? So I Arendt spoke of the hope or opportunity that thought that was really, really brilliant comes at the end. She believed that “…every because if … if you want to increase the end in history necessarily contains a new … I think social workers have a lot of … beginning; this beginning is the promise, the we have a lot of like, value to bring to any only ‘message’ which the end can ever workplace and especially the ones where produce” (Arendt, 1951, p. 478). In order to people don’t think we are valuable. You challenge existing hegemony and achieve know, where people aren’t in crises all the ideational change, a new philosophy is needed, time. one that involves deconstructing and chal- lenging our own power and authority as social This participant is actively engaging in workers, and reconstructing it to be produc- changing the perception of some individuals tive (Healy & Leonard, 2000). Transformative who are in positions of power. To do so, he practice approaches the current hegemonic appears to understand he needs to use the state as inherently social, rather than natural methods of the “enemy,” such as branding. (Robinson, 2005), and as such recognizes that According to the online Business Dictionary, it can be changed. branding is a business marketing process that involves “…creating a unique name and Similar to its philosophical ancestors, crit- image for a product in the consumers’ mind, ical social work practice is also focused on mainly through advertising campaigns with a rebirth and transformation. “A critical reflec- consistent theme. Branding aims to establish a tive approach holds the potential for emanci- significant and differentiated presence in the patory practices (Fook, 1999) in that it first market that attracts and retains loyal custom- questions and disrupts dominant structures ers” (“Branding,” n.d.). In this case, the and relations and lays the ground for change” participant was focused on creating an image (Fook, 2002, p. 41). A part of freeing our- of a social worker as a valuable asset to any selves from hegemonic forces is expending an organization, whether the agency is involved effort to free us from Gramsci’s “common with acute cases or not. In addition, he sense” (Robinson, 2005), as this participant understood he needed to target individuals in demonstrated when she questioned other positions of power and authority in order to social work colleagues’ sense of fatalism - - spread this message to others and create a the belief that the world has been, and will loyal following. This new social worker always be, the same. described several instances in his practice where he curved and wound his critical [social workers] often think of what is practices and knowledge around the exclu- available, which is never enough. It is sionary practices of his hierarchical and never going to be adequate and it is not … bureaucratic organization by utilizing main- it is not okay to stop there and I think that stream methods his audience could appreciate. if we stop dreaming big and actually say- ing, “This is what the people need”, rather than, “This is what you can have”, there won’t ever be changes. Right?

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Gramsci discussed the possibility of trans- they couldn’t believe that the mom – she formative practice in his concept of “good was a single mom – was reading her six – sense.” It is the critique of common sense that six or seven [year old] – Stephen King comes from within the subaltern group that novels, and that was his bedtime stories has escaped dominant philosophies. Good and there was a lot of pathologizing going sense is too minimal to create a new philoso- on over what kind of mother she was, blah, phy (Robinson, 2005), but it has a criticality blah, blah. So I just kind of threw it out that allows for disruption of common sense there, “Well have you ever thought about and the current status quo. As such, good the fact that maybe” – they were in ex- sense may be seen as the starting point to treme poverty – “she can’t afford to buy something larger (Robinson, 2005). It is “the numerous books? She is either …” – they beginnings of the new world, rough and were an indigenous family – “… maybe jagged though they always are…” (Gramsci, she was never raised in a family where 1971, p. 343). It is the type of sense-making they had children’s books read to her so activity that brings the promise for something maybe she doesn’t actually even make more. that connection that, you know, they might be [inappropriate], or maybe she is Rebirth and Renewal: Rebuilding struggling so much the only time she gets to read or stop and sit down” – because Similar to Gadamer’s genuine conversation, the kid was super hyperactive – “she the consciousness-raising process is meant to wants to read her own book because she be a mutual one, based on respect and a is sick and tired of reading kid’s books genuine desire to impact and be impacted by and the kid will only sit down if she is the other. Consciousness-raising involves reading to him so she reads him her books, sharing expertise, learning from one another, and she is just not making those connec- and joint action (Allan, 2003). Critical social tions that Stephen King is a little gory for workers are taught to approach this type of a six year old.” You know? It might not be practice from a voluntaristic, rather than that she is actually trying to harm her kid, deterministic, stance (Fook, 2002). When or a neglectful parent, or whatnot. Like working with colleagues, the practice in- there might be misunderstandings or lack volves negotiating multiple meanings, and of resources, like there are all these other recognizing the many different ways of options and she might just need to be re- knowing and understanding. Most importantly, directed that, “Here is a few children’s it involves having an attitude of respect and books, why don’t you read these to him”? excellent active listening skills (Allan, 2003). You know? “Or help him”? You know? All of these practices involve the subtle, small, “You do half an hour of reading with him but deliberate, movements that expose the and then he has to figure out some time he falseness of the view of the world from the can do something on his own so that you top. can read for half an hour.” So just little miniscule things. When people are debriefing or discussing, or writing case notes that is where I think The “little miniscule things” means hav- that my skills kind of pop up and that is ing the will to question or resist dominant where I start going, “Well did you ever discourses, and create the space to encourage think about this”? … Like there was one others to follow suit. As Fook (2002) suggest- kid and they were all talking about how ed, these destructive discourses are only as

15 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article powerful to the degree to which they go deliberate, slow, undulating. Perhaps the unquestioned. In this case, the participant movement inspires more of a hybridization of rejected the “bad mother” discourse and our current understanding, instead of under- searched for other plausible explanations. She standing their practice as something that must also found the space to encourage her col- fix the world, or save others. A new critical leagues to see the possibility of a different understanding of practice might include interpretation. This is the conversation that reflexive deconstruction and reconstruction has the potential to transform a “bad mom” motions. This is an understanding where into a human being in need of a bit of time, critical social workers might act as both and a few resources. This critical social translators and scholars interested in having a worker was attempting to create a new genuine conversation. Although they are wary understanding, one where the perspectives of of the ideology and practices of those in individuals on the margins are no longer positions of power, it is also a practice that subjugated or disruptive, but instead are the includes using some of the mainstream tools perspectives that are also constitutive and to overcome the problems of subjugation. primary (Hartsock, 1990). Finally, this understanding might help new graduates find some satisfaction with the Instead of searching for a totalizing solu- small movements, while still looking for tion or grand fix, the “little miniscule things,” opportunities for greater change. the slight action, or the small questions might become the opportunity for rebirth and Postmodern critical social work approach- transformation. New critical social work es have refocused from broader political and graduates, because of the limited expectations structural problems, to more local forms of others have for them and they sometimes have change in an effort to allow more individuals for themselves, in some ways have the luxury and groups to be part of the continuum of of moving in small steps, rather than always social change. These small-scale localized expecting to save the world in one heroic leap. activities are still respected for their radical It is more about making space in the world potential. In addition, structural approaches to than it is about completely altering the world social work practice do not endorse one in which we are. A study conducted by particular way of working over another. This Whitmore, Calhoun, and Wilson (2011) is due to “…a dialectical view that the per- investigated the question “how do you know sonal and political are fundamentally con- you are making a difference?”(p. 437). This nected, working with individuals, families, was an advocacy project focused on changing groups, organisations and communities are all policies, laws, practices, and improving regarded as containing possibilities for citizen engagement in Canada. In this study, practice” (Allan, 2003, p. 53). As with the the researchers found their participants were serpent analogy, there can be no dichotomous also keen to celebrate all small endeavors in understanding here. Although there is overt an effort to avoid getting bogged down by the and covert manipulation and destruction, bureaucracy and uncertainty of their work there is also the opportunity for new growth (Whitmore et al., 2011). and transformation through the slow, steadfast curving and winding through our current These new critical social work graduates reality. appear to understand that there is no complete and total fix to our current world state. While Although these small insinuating move- always in motion, their movements are ments are effective at weaving through

16 Gallop Journal of Applied Hermeneutics 2013 Article contrary and dominant ideology and practice, does not fit into a neat knowledge application they are always at risk of being lost or scat- box. Perhaps we are fools to believe we are tered without the opportunity to build social looking at nothing. Instead, human service cohesion and combat isolation (Allan, 2003). organizations or social workers steeped in a One of the great merits of a neo-liberal neoliberal mindset might simply be blind to ideology is its ability to ontologically hijack what critical social work graduates are, and ambivalent or diffused agendas (Carey, 2009). what they have to offer. Specifically, Margo- In order to continue these small insinuating lin (1997) has argued “…that social workers movements, perhaps what is needed is more blind themselves to how professional practice opportunity to discuss these “little miniscule perpetuates and expands social injustice in things” with other like-minded social workers. order to do what we do” (as cited in Olson, This might be the only opportunity for these 2007, p. 60). little dialogues to turn into more comprehen- sive conversations, and bigger ideas. Individual social workers and human service organizations that are steeped in neolib- Finding Something eral ideology and practice are powerful in their stance and pursuit of conditions of The question of nothing can only arise if there certainty. However, their persistence has not is already some understanding of what “it” is eradicated other ways of knowing and other (Bowie, 2010). As such, the field of social ways of practicing. Philosophical hermeneu- work may not necessarily be concerned with tics helps us recognize that the self exists in a what new critical social work graduates are, multiplicity of unfathomable and unstable but instead what we can do with them. Many relationships. Because of the nature of our critical social work educators current understanding of reality and perspective, many who are blind might not be aware …strive to facilitate learning environ- of this type of non-mainstream presence ments that privilege: the active creation of (Davey, 2006). As such, for some who are collective knowledge over the passive giv- blind, the practice experiences of critical ing and receiving of pre-determined social workers have no essence. knowledge; contradiction over certainty, surfacing assumptions over learning “the As a field, we might have also blinded facts,” searching for understanding over ourselves. However, there are those who are finding the truth; exploring questions over willing to see this nothingness as something finding answers; staying with discomfort other than a vacuous abyss. For these individ- over seeking comfort; dialoguing over de- uals, this space might be interpreted as a bating; working collaboratively over generative one, as aletheia. It is a space that working competitively. (Campbell & makes room for the emergence of new Baikie, 2012, p. 78) interpretations and new practices.

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