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Showing papers on "Empowerment published in 1987"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The concept "prevention" is viewed as an exemplar, whereas the concept "empowerment" is suggested as a leading candidate for the title "phenomena of interest" to Community Psychology.
Abstract: In order to develop theory any community of scientists must agree as to what constitutes its phenomena of interest. A distinction is made between phenomena of interest and exemplars. The concept "prevention" is viewed as an exemplar, whereas the concept "empowerment" is suggested as a leading candidate for the title "phenomena of interest" to Community Psychology. The ecological nature of empowerment theory is described, and some of the terms of empowerment (definitions, conditions, and periods of time) are explicated. Eleven assumptions, presuppositions, and hypotheses are offered as guidelines for theory development and empirical study.

2,110 citations


Book
01 Jan 1987
TL;DR: The Dilemmas of managers in the middle are discussed in this paper, where a vision of greatness is described as the first step toward empowerment. But the authors do not discuss how to achieve it.
Abstract: Preface. The Author. Introduction: The Dilemmas of Managers in the Middle. POLITICS IN THE WORKPLACE: REKINDLING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT. Personal Choices That Shape the Work Environment. Origins of the Bureaucratic Mentality. Developing Antidotes for Bureaucracy. POSITIVE POLITICAL SKILLS AT WORK. Creating a Vision of Greatness: The First Step Toward Empowerment. Building Support for Your Vision: Negotiating with Allies and Adversaries. Balancing Autonomy and DepAndence: Peace with Those Around You. Facing Organizational Realities: Continual Acts of Courage. Enacting the Vision: The Essence of Empowerment. Annotated Bibliography. Index.

303 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The theory and practice of empowerment as an emerging mental health technology, as well as its relationship to prevention, and the disparate philosophical world views of empowerment and prevention are outlined are addressed.
Abstract: This paper addresses the theory and practice of empowerment as an emerging mental health technology, as well as its relationship to prevention. The paper begins with a discussion of the increasing interest in empowerment by preventionists. Definitional issues are then considered; in this context the disparate philosophical world views of empowerment and prevention are outlined. Next, attention is directed to emprowerment in practice. This section is followed by a discussion of possible roles for professionals in empowerment activities. The paper ends with a note of caution to mental health professionals who plan to use the emerging technology of empowerment.

284 citations


Journal Article

235 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the sources of power of workers and clients, and, by using a power-dependence perspective, they explore the consequences of power on social work practice.
Abstract: The role of power in social work practice has been generally understated despite its importance to the course and outcome of the clinical process. This paper examines the sources of power of workers and clients, and, by using a power-dependence perspective, it explores the consequences of power on social work practice. It is argued that, in most instances, the effectiveness of social work practice is predicated on the enhancement of the power resources of the client. Client empowerment strategies are proposed as the core tasks of social work practice.

173 citations


01 Jan 1987
TL;DR: In this paper, the concept of empowerment through relationship was examined from the perspective of the evolving theoretical approach of the Stone Center and the empowerment to act was viewed as arising from interaction within mutually empathic and mutually empowering relationships.
Abstract: This paper examines the concept of empowerment through relationship from the perspective of the evolving theoretical approach of the Stone Center. The empowerment to act is viewed as arising from interaction within mutually empathic and mutually empowering relationships. Attention is given to the importance of creating and sustaining relationships and relational contexts that empower women in all life activities. As an example, the author describes a workshop designed to empower women to become active politically in working toward nuclear disarmament.

153 citations


Book
10 Sep 1987
TL;DR: Halliday as mentioned in this paper argues that the legal profession has the capability of turning social and political issues into technical legal matters in what he calls an "idiom of legalism." Under technical guise, lawyers come to exercise moral authority.
Abstract: How do professional associations build their resources and establish authroity? What are the conditions under which professional expertise can be mobilized for political action? If professional organizations are endowed with a wealth of resources, do they use them responsibly or only for economic monopoly? What is the potential scope of professional action today? In this pathbreaking study of the legal profession, Terence Halliday raises and addresses these questions combining extensive data from the rich archives o the Chicago Bar Association, one of the nation's largest and wealthiest bar organizations, with data from a national survey of bar legislative and judicial action. "Beyond Monopoly" demonstrates that the primary commitment of lawyers to economic monopoly has long been complemented by "civic professionalism" as the legal profession takes on more responsibility in the American democratic system when state capabilities diminish. Through his examination of three types of state crises in the 1950s and 1960s the challenges to legitimacy in the legal system, the crisis of individual rights during McCarthyism and the civil rights eras, and the fiscal crises of various state governments Halliday shows that large bar associations can have extensive influence on any institution that is regulated by law. He argues that lawyers have the capability of turning social and political issues into technical legal matters in what he calls an "idiom of legalism." Under technical guise, lawyers come to exercise moral authority. Halliday maintains that the American legal profession over the past century has gone from a formative stage, when controlling its market in the delivery of legal services was paramount, to an established phase in the past two decades, when it has committed extensive resources to the complex needs of the modern state. A de facto bargain has been struck: if the state leaves the profession's monopoly fairly intact, the profession can use its expert resources to help the state adapt to strain and crisis. It can do so not only in the legal system, where it has been championing "autonomous" law, but in other spheres as well from the economy to the private sphere of individual rights. Halliday confirms that the legal profession deploys its expertise not merely to attain professional dominance, to control a market, or to purvey an ideology, but to increase the viability of democratic institutions. "Beyond Monopoly" introduces a pioneering approach to a historical and comparative sociology of the professions that will be of vital interest not only to sociologists, but to political scientists and lawyers as well."

149 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a discussion of the extension of NNancy Hartsock's work on feminism and power to sport is presented, and the possibilities for political change through sport that is consistent with the feminist vision of power.
Abstract: This paper provides a discussion of the extension of Nancy Hartsock's work on feminism and power to sport. The paper first considers the conceptualization of power. In Western thought power has usually been defined as strength and domination. This defination has been reproduced in sport, where masculine ideals of force and aggression are emphasized. An alternative feminist conception of power stresses energy and creativity. The second part of the paper considers the possibilities for political change through sport that is consistent with the feminist vision of power. It is suggested that the potential lies in the opportunity for women in sport to experience their physical strength and capacity and to build organizations that develop these qualities in the community of women. Some examples of women's empowerment in and through sport are presented. Although there is nothing like a feminist revolution taking place in sport as yet, the instances of change that have occurred are reason for optimism.

149 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze various aspects of relationships between international and local or indigenous NGOs and discuss the role of northern NGOs as their partners in the South have begun to move from welfare to empowerment.

107 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors make an inventory of the principal concepts that have evolved in the literature so far, elicit a general model of participatory development projects, deduce the central implicit hypotheses from this literature on the relationship between participation and project effectiveness, and statistically test these hypotheses from the empirical evidence provided by AID's series of 52 Impact Evaluation Reports.
Abstract: Criticism of development projects is widespread, and blame for disappointing results is cast in many directions. One line of criticism which has become quite strong in the recent development literature is that development projects are too top-down and need to be more bottom-up (e.g. Maguire, 1981). Projects should involve more participation by beneficiaries. In fact, some would argue that real development, by definition, must involve beneficiaries in their own improvement (e.g. Gran, 1983a,b). Without participation the people may benefit but not develop from a project. Thus participation has intrinsic value. As the recognition of the value of public, popular, beneficiary, or community participation has increased, so has the range of what is meant by participation. Some authors have expanded the concept to mean empowerment and capacity-building, sometimes including institution-building. In this paper we do not attempt to redefine participation per se. but aim instead to make an inventory of the principal concepts that have evolved in the literature so far, elicit a general model of participatory development projects, deduce the central implicit hypotheses from this literature on the relationship between participation and project effectiveness, and statistically test these hypotheses from the empirical evidence provided by AID'S series of 52 Impact Evaluation Reports. Our major question is how much does beneficiary participation contribute to project effectiveness?

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the use of Harambee has become distorted, deviating from its traditional emphasis on basic production to the provision of large, costly social amenity projects.
Abstract: In Kenya, comprehensive national planning was recognized as a means to economic development and social change after independence in 1963. Planning would guide the allocation of scarce resources-land, skilled manpower, capital, and foreign aid-in order to promote rapid growth at every sector of the economy for the benefit of the people of Kenya.' Most traditions by which the local people had managed to sustain themselves were to be set aside. But an indigenous tradition of self-help called Harambee, meaning "let's all pull together," would be used to mobilize local resources and would involve local participation in development. It, too, would be subject to planning and coordination from above.2 In the ensuing years, development in Kenya has served to integrate the country into the world economy and has facilitated the emergence of an African petit bourgeois class. Kenya has become a success story of economic development, but it is also an example of extroverted development3 and of the increasingly illusive success of Harambee. The use of Harambee has become distorted, deviating from its traditional emphasis on basic production to the provision of large, costly social amenity projects.4 Harambee used to provide local mutual assistance and foster cultural values; today, those roles have been abandoned while only the material ends of Harambee are appropriated. Furthermore, local people have taken less and less part in decision making, management, and control of projects. This perversion of Harambee is referred to here as departicipation and reflects disempowerment at the grass-roots level.5 This article argues that Kenya's evolving class structure and at


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors traces the shift among NGOs in their delivery of services, development education, and advocacy work from welfare to development activities, defined as increasing the local capacity to meet basic needs and control the resources necessary for sustainable development.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an approach for social work in oppressed communities, which they call Empowerment: Social Work in Oppressed Communities (EMWC), which is an extension of Social Work Practice (SWP).
Abstract: (1987). Empowerment: Social work in oppressed communities. Journal of Social Work Practice: Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 79-91.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine ideological statements reflected in, and to a small extent created by, people's participation in garage sales, and argue that these prefigurative cultural formations are grouped into discrete ideological claims that they call "Visions of Power", each of which speaks to the empowerment of subordinate groups.
Abstract: In this article, we examine ideological statements reflected in, and to a small extent created by, people's participation in garage sales.1 Although the article touches upon the economics of garage sales, its focus is on ideology, about how people understand what they are doing when they buy and sell, and how this relates to their more general perception of the social world and their position in it. The way people discuss their participation in garage sales tells a great deal about how they understand their worlds: patterns of work and consumption, claims (especially by women and the aged) that their daily activities have more dignity than is normally afforded them within society, a felt need for moral and practical networks. The expression of ‘oppositional culture’in the statements garage sale participants make to describe their lives is certainly underdeveloped. It is not free of the dominant ideology, cannot be the basis of class-conscious political practice and in present form poses little danger to any social institution (except perhaps department stores). Still it does contain, in shadowy form, seminal statements in contradiction to what is generally regarded as the dominant ideology. We will call these emerging elements ‘prefigurative cultural formations’, as in vague form they connote emergent social values. Further, we will argue that these prefigurative cultural formations are grouped into discrete ideological claims that we call ‘Visions of Power, each of which speaks to the empowerment of subordinate groups. We will discuss four specific Visions of Power: reclaiming control of one's work, creating a sense of social justice, beating the system, and feeling oneself a part of a nurturing community. Before attempting to demonstrate the utility of these concepts in understanding forms of belief reflected in garage sales and other informal economic activities, we will briefly explore our approach to ideology, and will attempt to situate it within the contemporary debate on the nature of ideology.

Book
01 Jan 1987
TL;DR: Young-Eisendrath and Wiedemann as mentioned in this paper present a re-visioning of the female self, using the psychologies of C. G. Jung and Jane Loevinger as major theoretical frameworks.
Abstract: For women in Western society, there is no straightforward path of development to autonomous adulthood. The double-bind of female authority--that a women cannot be both a healthy adult and an ideal woman--is the context in which a woman must construct her self in this culture. Whether she sees herself as "too needy" or "too controlling," "too insecure" or "too self-reliant," she is gathering evidence to support a theory of personal inadequacy. The traditional perspectives of psychodynamics and psychopathology reinforce women's sense of inferiority. How then does a woman claim her own authority--the validity of her own truth, beauty, goodness, originating in her own experience? Young-Eisendrath and Wiedemann break with the tradition of "deficit thinking," the examination of what is absent, wrong, or deficient. Recognizing this as a fundamental barrier to the empowerment of women, they work instead from an understanding of what is already strong and satisfying in the lives of women and girls in a patriarchal society. This volume unravels the paradox of female authority through the examination of its sociocultural, symbolic, and personal dimensions. Chapters 1 through 4 present a re-visioning of the female self, using the psychologies of C. G. Jung and Jane Loevinger as major theoretical frameworks. The authors argue for a modification of Jung's concept of "animus"--the repressed masculine in the girl or woman--and in chapters 5 through 8 present a detailed model of psychotherapy based on five stages of animus development. Using a wealth of clinical material from their own practices--including two extended case presentations in chapters 9 through 11--the authors skillfully illustrate their own efforts to help women assume greater personal authority. The book's concluding chapter presents New Texts and Contexts for Female Development. Unique in its combination of feminist theory, social psychology, and Jungian psychology, Female Authority offers a fresh approach to the analysis of gender concerns in identity. The book will be of great value to practitioners and theoreticians in the human services. The discussion of women's self-esteem and personal authority, and the probing of conflicts inherent in female identity in our society, place this book among the major recent contributions to the development of a psychology of women.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper reviews examples from the research literature of efforts at prevention and empowerment in five classes of behavior settings identified by Barker (1968), namely, schools, work sites, religious settings, voluntary associations, and government, and suggests additional roles community psychologists might play.
Abstract: Community psychology's twin goals of prevention and empowerment are ill-served when researchers and practitioners restrict their activities to traditional mental health settings. This paper echoes the call of the Swampscott conference for expanding community psychology's domain of inquiry and action. It reviews examples from the research literature of efforts at prevention and empowerment in five classes of behavior settings identified by Barker (1968), namely, schools, work sites, religious settings, voluntary associations, and government, and suggests additional roles community psychologists might play.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors examines the research that supports the term and some of the implications that this term has for principals, including the implications of teacher empowerment on the role of the principal in the education system.
Abstract: The term “teacher empowerment” has recently made its appearance in the literature of education. This article examines the research that supports the term and some of the implications that this term has for principals.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Families of the mentally ill are emerging from their private traumas to form a supportive network, from which they are finding nourishment, developing courage, and working for change.
Abstract: Families of the mentally ill are emerging from their private traumas to form a supportive network, from which they are finding nourishment, developing courage, and working for change.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Relations between geography and culture, important in understanding the mental health problems of Indian people, are discussed in regard to expanding community healing resources through empowerment, and viewing "education as transformation" as a key concept in enhancing community healing processes.
Abstract: Critical issues in the delivery of mental health services to North American Indians/Natives residing in rural areas are discussed by describing Indian populations/communities; briefly summarizing available literature concerning the nature of mental health problems within Indian communities; examining Indian belief systems relevant to participation in mental health service delivery processes; exploring community expectations for structuring participatory interactions which may inhibit utilization of mental health services; and describing transactions between Indian consumers and non-Indian professionals which have become typical over time The rural context was examined as it interacts with individual and community characteristics to affect Indian mental health Relations between geography and culture, important in understanding the mental health problems of Indian people, are discussed in regard to expanding community healing resources through empowerment, and viewing "education as transformation" as a key concept in enhancing community healing processes

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, an empowerment strategy is considered as a possible approach to rural revitalization and several programs that have utilized an empowerment process will be examined, and additional efforts based on empowerment principles will be suggested.
Abstract: During the 1980s a variety of economic forces have contributed to a crisis in agriculture. This economic crisis has led to record numbers of farm foreclosures, closings of rural businesses, and decreased viability of some rural communities. The evidence suggests that these economic problems have led to individual, family, and community problems. An increasing number of local, state, and federal organizations and government bodies have initiated efforts to address these rural concerns. In this article an empowerment strategy will be considered as a possible approach to rural revitalization. Several programs that have utilized an empowerment process will be examined. Finally, additional efforts based on empowerment principles will be suggested.

01 Jan 1987
TL;DR: DCCUMENT RESUME as mentioned in this paper ] is a resume of the authors' previous work, including the work of as mentioned in this paper.http://www.dccumentresume.com
Abstract: DCCUMENT RESUME


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Broader risk assessment methodologies are proposed to encourage the planning process, which can be given direction by the development of a personal planning guide and workshops and attention must be drawn particularly to the importance of human values at the core of personal decisions and life plans.


01 Jan 1987
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the best hope for combating poverty lies not with lawyers, but with the poor themselves and argue that empowering the poor should be the political object of poverty law.
Abstract: The first purpose of this Article is to pursue an ideological inquiry with respect to the habits of perception and interpretation dominant in the practice of poverty law. As I hope to show, these habits reify and reproduce myths of legal efficacy, and inherent indigent isolation and passivity which sustain and reinforce relations of power oppressive to the poor. To explode those myths, I shall critique the dominant traditions of poverty law: direct service and law reform litigation. My thesis is that poverty cannot - indeed should not - be remedied by these traditions. Remedial litigation should not be mounted, even where altruistic 13 relief is possible, without the activization of class consciousness among the poor, nor without the political organization and mobilization of the poor.

Implicit in this thesis is the view that the poor are historical actors waging a day-to-day class struggle to assert control over their lives and communities. The battle against poverty and oppressive welfare systems is their common historical struggle. By relying on direct service and law reform litigation, poverty lawyers negate the poor as an historical class engaged in political struggle, thereby decontextualizing, atomizing, and depoliticizing that struggle. Moreover, by reifying the dissociated category of ingrained
indigent isolation and passivity, poverty lawyers reproduce isolation and passivity in the attorney/client relationship, thus inhibiting the potential for political struggle. Because these contradictions plague the practice of poverty law, the best hope for combating poverty lies not with lawyers, but with the poor themselves. It follows that empowering the poor should be the political object of poverty law.

Having established the goal of poverty law, I shall turn to my second purpose and endeavor to demonstrate that poverty can be soundly attacked only by applying an integrated theory of empowerment combining the elements of critical consciousness and discourse, the strategic methods of direct service and law reform litigation, and the collective force of clients acting together in local, state, and national political alliances.) To begin the hard practice of theory, I counsel poverty lawyers to apply critical consciousness, engage in dialogue, and redirect their efforts towards client empowerment, i.e., the activization of liberating class consciousness and the organization and mobilization of grass roots client alliances in local, state, and national communities. My hope is that client and community empowerment may serve as a strategic weapon in the continuing war against poverty.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a social ecological approach to consultation was evaluated through a four-year primary prevention field research project with 10,000 people in 24 church congregations and significantly lower levels of personal distress and alcohol abuse were found.
Abstract: A social ecological approach to consultation was evaluated through a four-year primary prevention field research project with 10,000 people in 24 church congregations Significantly lower levels of personal distress and alcohol abuse were found in experimental congregations exposed to intervention processes which encouraged an increase in heterogeneous settings and activities when compared to control congregations not exposed to the same intervention processes Continuing reciprocal social support and mutual empowerment, defined as knowing how to give and receive support, caring for others, knowing others by name, and being asked to help others, were identified as the key process variables which minimized distress and abuse

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The authors investigates the political and social consequences of noncitizenship on the Hispanic community and describes how the studies in this volume grew from a national applied research project to promote citizenship among immigrant Hispanics.
Abstract: This study investigates the political and social consequences of noncitizenship on the Hispanic community and describes how the studies in this volume grew from a national applied research project to promote citizenship among immigrant Hispanics. By highlighting the findings of the studies on Latino naturalization contained in this volume, the author suggests some factors that can be promoted to encourage naturalization among long-term resident aliens. Should these efforts be successful, he suggests, the greatest obstacle to political empowerment in the Latino community will be removed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article developed a contextual rationale for the use of empowerment as a goal in direct service practice by examining the pre-interview, engagement, and termination sub-processes of casework.
Abstract: This article develops a contextual rationale for the use of empowerment as a goal in direct service practice by examining the pre-interview, engagement, and termination sub-processes of casework.