Methods for developing intersectional approaches to structural social work: from advocacy to critical reflection

Tina Mattsson

Chapter 12 in Handbook on Intersectionality and Social Work, 2026, pp 158-167 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: For social workers to understand and address social problems in today's changing and diverse world, where people's experiences are both complex and rooted in multifaceted conditions, whether related to housing standards, poverty, crime, or labor market participation, a dynamic theoretical framework is required. In this chapter, intersectionality is introduced as such a framework. The central argument is that combining an intersectional perspective with a critically reflexive method provides a fruitful approach to conduct social work that is both aware of and capable of challenging social inequalities. The tradition and practice of critical reflection are described, along with how the integration of intersectionality and critical reflection enables social workers to develop a deeper awareness of how gender, class, race, sexuality, dis/ability, and age intersect in shaping how social problems impact people's lives. Finally, a model for conducting critical intersectional reflection is presented.

Keywords: Critical Reflection; Intersectionality; Structural Social Work; Social Work and Inequalities; Advocacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035324453
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