Social Work Abstracts

Women’s Issues

With the advent of the first and second waves of the women’s movement, the status of women has greatly improved in the United States, although much remains to be done. Social work has a special interest in women because of the profession’s dedication to ending discrimination and working toward social justice. The profession also has a more personal interest because the majority of both social workers and their clients are female. Therefore, advancing the cause of women benefits the profession itself and the clients we serve. This policy statement catalogues the continued second-class status of women in the United States in the areas of employment, education, health, and mental health. Specific policy and practice recommendations are made to address continued inequities so that women can experience increased opportunities and a fully self-determined life. Special attention is paid to women who suffer intersecting oppressions because of their race or ethnicity, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, or disability. Although some women have expanded opportunities, subpopulations of women continue to struggle: poor women, immigrant women, and women of color. Addressing the needs of diverse women while recognizing the strengths of all women is a goal of the policy statement.