Introduction

This book Routledge International Handbook of Feminisms in Social Work has been developed to highlight the innovation and activism, and affect-driven feminist dialogue, practices and research that inspire feminist social work across its broad sphere of influence. In this Handbook, the editors have gathered leading feminist scholars from the many branches and movements of feminist thought and practice from Central and South America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand to present the diverse Feminisms that have influenced social work. In gathering the many (at times silenced) feminist voices and their allies together, the editors aimed to create an opportunity where current and contested feminist landscapes can be discussed, acknowledged, respected and critiqued. Feminists still face the battle of working towards ending gender-based violence, discrimination, exploitation and oppression, and therefore, it is urgent that we highlight the many contemporary examples of activism, resistance, best practice and opportunities to emphasise the different ways Feminisms remain central to social work knowledge and practice (Wendt & Moulding, 2016, p. 303).