Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rethinking Professional Identity in a Globalized World

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Clinical Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent literature has shed light on changes in the development of personal identity as a result of globalization, but the development of professional identity in the era of globalization has not yet been examined. To fill this gap, we analyzed this issue in light of the traditional construction of the social work profession, the paradigm of cultural competence and cultural relativism, and International Social Work programs. The analysis revealed that professional efforts to cope with globalization might have the opposite effect by reinforcing individualism, nationalism, and oppression, as well as by reinforcing hierarchical power relations among different cultural groups and residents of Northern and Southern countries. In light of this situation, it is important to recognize the need for a complex professional identity that interweaves indigenous, local, global, and universalistic thinking with perceptions based on the new declarations of the social work profession. As such, further research and continuing professional discussions and elaboration are recommended.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abram, F. Y., & Cruce, A. (2007). A re-conceptualization of “reverse mission” for international social work education and practice. Social Work Education, 26, 3–19. doi:10.1080/02615470601036393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abram, F. Y., Slosar, J. A., & Walls, R. (2005). Reverse mission: A model for international social work education and transformative intra-national practice. International Journal of Social Work, 48, 161–176. doi:10.1177/0020872805050490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anastas, J. W. (2013). Teaching in social work: An educators’ guide to theory and practice. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J. J. (2002). The psychology of globalization. American Psychologist, 57, 774–783. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.57.10.774.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arnett, J. J. (2004). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from late teens through the twenties. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beresford, P. (2013). From “other” to involved: User involvement in research—an emerging paradigm. Nordic Social Work Research, 3, 139–148. doi:10.1080/2156857X.2013.835138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beresford, P., & Wilson, A. (1998). Social exclusion and social work: Challenging the contradictions of exclusive debate. In M. Barry & C. Hallet (Eds.), On the margins: Social exclusion and social work—issues of theory, policy and practice (pp. 85–96). Dorset: Russell House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berzoff, J., Flanagan, L. M., & Hertz, P. (2008). Inside out and outside in: Psychodynamic clinical theory and practice in contemporary multicultural contexts. Lanham, MD: Rowan & Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchan, N. R., Grimalda, G., Wilson, R., Brewer, M., Fatas, E., & Foddy, M. (2009). Globalization and human cooperation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, United States of America, 106, 4138–4142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambon, A. (2013). Recognising the other, understanding the other: A brief history of social work and otherness. Nordic Social Work Research, 3, 120–129. doi:10.1080/2156857X.2013.835137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambon, A. S., Johnstone, M., & Köngeter, S. (2014). The circulation of knowledge and practices across national borders in the early twentieth-century: A focus on social reform organisations. European Journal of Social Work, 18, 495–510. doi:10.1080/13691457.2014.953041.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, R. G. (2001). The myth of cross-cultural competence. Families in Society, 82, 623–630. doi:10.1606/1044-3894.151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doel, M. (2010). Service users perspectives on relationships. In G. Ruch, D. Turney, & A. Ward (Eds.), Relationship-based social work: Getting to the heart of practice (pp. 199–214). London, England: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominelli, L. (2007). Human rights in social work practice: An invisible part of the social work curriculum? In E. Reichert (Ed.), Challenges in human rights: A social work perspective (pp. 16–43). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dominelli, L. (2009). Introducing social work. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, A. M. (2002). Culture competence and the primary care provider. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 16, 105–111. doi:10.1067/mph.2002.118245.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fenster, T., & Vizel, I. (2006). Globalization, sense of belonging and the African community in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. HAGAR Studies in Culture, Polity and Identities, 7, 7–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher-Borne, M., Cain, J. M., & Martin, S. L. (2015). From mastery to accountability: Cultural humility as an alternative to cultural competence. Social Work Education, 34, 165–181. doi:10.1080/02615479.2014.977244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garran, A. M., & Werkmeister Rozas, L. (2013). Cultural competence revisited. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 22, 97–111. doi:10.1080/15313204.2013.785337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gatenio-Gabel, S., & Healy, L. (2012). Guest editorial introduction to the special issue: Globalization and social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 48, 627–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, M. (2005). Dilemmas of international social work: paradoxical processes in indigenization, universalism and imperialism. International Journal of Social Welfare, 14, 231–238. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2397.2005.00363.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, M., & Fook, J. (2007). The quest for a universal social work: Some issues and implications. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 23(5), 625–644. doi:10.1080/0261547042000252325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Healy, L. M. (2001). International social work: Professional action in an interdependent world. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, K. E. (2005). Social work theories in context. Basingstoke, England: Palgrave.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, L. M. (2007). Universalism and cultural relativism in social work ethics. International Social Work, 50, 11–26. doi:10.1177/0020872807071479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Healy, M., & Wairire, G. G. (2014). Education for the global agenda: Internationally relevant conceptual frameworks and knowledge for social work education. International Journal of Social Work, 57, 235–247. doi:10.1177/0020872813519463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiranandani, V. (2011). Canadian identity: Implications for international social work by Canadians. Critical Social Work, 12, 87–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hokenstad, T. (2012). Social work education: The international dimension. In K. Lyons, T. Hokenstad, M. Pawar, N. Huegler, & N. Hall (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of international social work (pp. 163–178). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hugman, R. (2012). Human rights and social justice. In M. Gray, J. Midgley, & S. A. Webb (Eds.), The Sage handbook of social work (pp. 372–385). London: Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ife, J. (2001). Human rights and social work. Towards rights-based practice. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • IFSW. (2014). New international definition of social work. Retrieved from: http://www.iassw-aiets.org/nidosw-20140221.

  • Köngeter, S., Altissimo, A., Jakoby-Herz, A., & Schröer, W. (2015). Child and youth welfare in globalized societies: Migration in child and youth care—a transnational curriculum for social work courses. Transnational Social Review, 5, 73–78. doi:10.1080/21931674.2014.997086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krumer-Nevo, M., Weiss-Gal, I., & Levin, L. (2011). Searching for poverty aware social work: Discourse analysis of job descriptions. Journal of Social Policy, 40, 313–332. doi:10.1017/S004727941000053X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunst, J. R., & Sam, D. L. (2013). Expanding the margins of identity: A critique of marginalization in a globalized world. Research, practice, consultation. International Perspectives in Psychology: Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/ipp0000008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lum, D. (1996). Social work practice and people of color: A process-stage approach (3rd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, K. (2006). Globalization and social work: International and local implications. British Journal of Social Work, 35, 365–380. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcl007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, K., & Ramanathan, S. (1999). Models of field practice in global settings. In S. Ramanathan & R. J. Link (Eds.), All our futures: Resources and principles for social work practice in a global era (pp. 175–191). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Midgley, J. (1981). Professional imperialism. London: Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Midgley, J. (2001). Issues in international social work: Resolving critical debates in the profession. Journal of Social Work, 1, 21–35. doi:10.1177/146801730100100103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadan, Y. (2014). Rethinking “cultural competence” in international social work. International Journal of Social Work. Advance Online Publication,. doi:10.1177/0020872814539986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadan, Y., & Ben-Ari, A. (2012). What can we learn from rethinking “multiculturalism” in social work education? Social Work Education: The International Journal, 32, 1089–1102. doi:10.1080/02615479.2012.723686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nimmagadda, J., & Cowger, C. D. (1999). Cross-cultural practice: Social worker ingenuity in the indigenization of practice knowledge. International Social Work, 42, 261–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nuttman-Shwartz, O., & Ranz, R. (2014). A reciprocal working model for fieldwork with international social work students. British Journal of Social Work, 44(8), 2411–2425. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bct080.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuttman-Shwartz, O., & Shay, S. (2011). Developing the role of the group facilitator: Learning from experience. In J. Kleinberg (Ed.), Handbook of group psychotherapy (pp. 231–248). New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, C. (2013). Social workers as boundary spanners: Reframing our professional identity for interprofessional practice. Social Work Education, 32, 773–784. doi:10.1080/02615479.2013.765401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Probst, B. (2013). “Walking the tightrope”: Clinical social workers’ use of diagnostic and environmental perspectives. Clinical Social Work Journal, 41, 184–191. doi:10.1007/s10615-012-0394-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rankopo, M. J., & Osei-Hwedie, K. (2011). Globalization and culturally relevant social work: African perspectives on indigenization. International Social Work, 54, 137–147. doi:10.1177/0020872810372367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranz, R., Nuttman-Shwartz, O., & Thachil, G. (2015). International encounters: Experiences of visitors and hosts in a cross-cultural program. Journal of Social Work Education, 51(2), 343–358. doi:10.1080/10437797.2015.1012933.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichert, E. (2006). Human rights: An examination of universalism and cultural relativism. Journal of Comparative Social Welfare, 22, 23–36. doi:10.1080/17486830500522997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reimer, E. C. (2014). Using friendship to build professional family work relationships where child neglect is an issue: Worker perceptions. Australian Social Work, 67, 315–331. doi:10.1080/0312407X.2013.815240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, S., Baldry, E., & Earles, W. (2015). Decolonising social work research: Learning from critical indigenous approaches. Australian Social Work, 68, 296–308. doi:10.1080/0312407X.2015.1024264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schilling, S., Gautschi, J., Rüegger, C., Kurenkova, O., & Shcherbakov, G. (2013). International cooperation in social work: Some reflections on a Swiss–Russian cooperation project. Social Work and Society, 11, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholar, H., McLaughlin, H., & McCaughan, S. (2014). Learning to be a social worker in a non-traditional placement: Critical reflection on social work, professional identity and social work education in England. Social Work Education: The International Journal. Advance online publication,. doi:10.1080/02615479.2014.926320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sevig, T. D., Higlen, P. S., & Adams, E. M. (2000). Development and validation of the self-identity inventory (SII): A multicultural identity development instrument. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 6, 168–182. doi:10.1037/1099-9809.6.2.168.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard, M. (2006). Social work and social exclusion: The idea of practice. Hampshire, England: Ashgate Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strier, R., & Binyamin, S. (2014). Introducing anti-oppressive social work practices in public services: Rhetoric to practice. British Journal of Social Work, 44, 2095–2112. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bct049.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2003). Counseling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice (4th ed.). New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, J. L., & Arnett, J. J. (2009). The emergence of “emerging adulthood”: The new life stage between adolescence and young adulthood. In A. Furlong (Ed.), Handbook of youth and young adulthood: New perspectives and agendas (pp. 39–47). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tervalon, M., & Murray-García, J. (1998). Cultural humility versus cultural competence: A critical distinction in defining physician training outcomes in multicultural education. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 9, 117–125. doi:10.1353/hpu.2010.0233.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tosone, C. (2004). Relational social work: Honoring the tradition. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 73, 475–487. doi:10.1080/00377310409517730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tosone, C. (2016). Clinical social work education, mental health, and the DSM-5. Social Work in Mental Health, 14, 103–111. doi:10.1080/15332985.2015.1083513.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trevithick, P. (2003). Effective relationship-based practice: A theoretical exploration. Journal of Social Work Practice, 17, 163–176. doi:10.1080/026505302000145699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Troman, G. (2007). Research on teachers’ work & teacher professionalism: A short history. In I. Hextall, S. Gewirtz, A. Cribb, & P. Mahony (Eds.), Changing teachers’ roles, identities & professionalism (pp. 30–49). London, England: TLRP (Teacher and Learning Research Programme), Roehampton University, King’s College.

  • Tsang, A. K. T., & Yan, M. C. (2001). Chinese corpus, western application: The Chinese strategy of engagement with western social work discourse. International Social Work, 44, 433–454. doi:10.1177/002087280104400404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Türken, S., & Rudmin, F. W. (2013). On psychological effects of globalization: Development of a scale of global identity. Psychology & Society, 5(2), 63–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wayne, J., Bogo, M., & Raskin, M. (2010). Field education as the signature pedagogy of social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 46, 327–339. doi:10.5175/JSWE.2010.200900043.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb, S. A. (2003). Local orders and global chaos in social work. European Journal of Social Work, 6, 191–204. doi:10.1080/1369145032000144449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehbi, S., Parada, H., George, P., & Lessa, I. (2014). Going home: Social work across and about borders. International Social Work. Advance online publication,. doi:10.1177/0020872813519661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss-Gal, I. (2008). The person-in-environment approach: Professional ideology and practice of social workers in Israel. Social Work, 53, 65–75. doi:10.1093/sw/53.1.65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss-Gal, I., & Welbourne, P. (2008). The professionalization of social work: A cross-national exploration. International Journal of Social Welfare, 17(4), 281–290. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2397.2008.00574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, R. (2006). Opportunities and challenges for social workers crossing borders. International Social Work, 49, 629–640. doi:10.1177/0020872806066765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiles, F. (2013). Not easily put into a box: Constructing professional identity. Social Work Education, 32, 854–866. doi:10.1080/02615479.2012.705273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Israeli National Council for Social Work, School of Social Work, Sapir College, 7916500, D.N. Hof Ashkelon, Israel

    Orit Nuttman-Shwartz

Authors
  1. Orit Nuttman-Shwartz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Orit Nuttman-Shwartz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nuttman-Shwartz, O. Rethinking Professional Identity in a Globalized World. Clin Soc Work J 45, 1–9 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-016-0588-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-016-0588-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation