ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the importance of gender in practice, explores ways in which "women's issues" have been a part of social work practice, and discusses gender in practice from a multicultural feminist perspective. Women, like African Americans, were likewise accorded inferior status and seen as a group in need of protection and a paternal guiding hand. Social work has a long history of involvement, albeit not always adequate or effective, with issues of human diversity, particularly in the area of civil rights for people of color. Feminism, too, has been moving to embrace more inclusive models of social work and needs to continue to make a commitment in that direction. The psychology of women has not been central to the development of theories underlying our practice models. A feminist approach to the practice curriculum must incorporate a critical examination of the traditional practice models and their ability to empower our clients.
