A Qualitative Study on the Meaning of Empowerment Perceived by Social Workers : Is the Empowerment Approach Applicable in Korea?

사회복지사가 인식하는 임파워먼트의 의미에 관한 질적 연구 : 한국에서 임파워먼트 실천은 가능한가?

  • 김인숙 (가톨릭대학교 사회복지학과) ;
  • 우국희 (서울기독대학교 사회복지학과)
  • Published : 2002.05.30

Abstract

Recently, the concept of empowerment has become popular within social work practice. Despite of this trends, we have little empirical knowledge about what empowerment practice is and how it is applicable to practice settings in Korea. This study explored how social workers perceived and experienced the concept of empowerment. We used qualitative method to solve this questions. Individual and focus group interviews were conducted to 7 social workers serving in diverse settings. Research results are as follows: Participants had common perceptions of empowerment concept despite of the different settings. They perceived power as confidence, independence, self-control. The client/worker relationships were open, nonhierarchial egalitarian and characterized by mutuality and reciprocity. They emphasized the nature of empowerment as circular and diffusive process. Also, they orientated long term practice related to impatience of social workers. Finally, those who participated in this study challenged and reinterpreted the existing traditional "professionalism". We concluded that empowerment practice might demand infinite energies, social worker's creativity, trust of clients, and that empowerment practice would be a new approach in social work practice which influence on much more population because of its diffuseness.

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