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Different Kinds of Love

Different Kinds of Love. Faith and sexual orientation in social work education. Matthew Gough Nottingham Trent University. Context. Mental Health Workshop: disclosure of self? Integrity Authentic Risks: unprofessional, lose control Sexual orientation/ faith/ politics. Context part II.

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Different Kinds of Love

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  1. Different Kinds of Love Faith and sexual orientation in social work education Matthew Gough Nottingham Trent University Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  2. Context • Mental Health Workshop: disclosure of self? • Integrity • Authentic • Risks: unprofessional, lose control • Sexual orientation/ faith/ politics Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  3. Context part II • Media polarising faith ‘v’ LGB sexual orientation • Hall/Preddy v Bull/Bull, 2011 • R v Derby City Council, 2011 • Climate anti religion? • Role of hetero-sexism? • Commonality in discrimination? Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  4. Literature context • LGBT sexual orientation awareness and need to challenge hetero-sexism needs developing in social work education (Fish, 2008; Jeyasingham, 2008; Trotter et al, 2006) • Social work students and practitioners need competence in religion/ faith (Gilligan and Furness, 2006; Furman et al, 2004 • Tension between areas apparent in sociological literature (Yip, 2007; Wilcox, 2003) • Juxta position in social work education? • Social work highly values and ethics literature (Parrott, 2006; Dominelli, 2008; Banks, 2006) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  5. Research questions? • How does learner’s faith & sexual orientation impact on their ability to integrate commitment to diversity & anti discriminatory practice? • How inclusive/ affirming is sw education? • Is our curriculum competent & sophisticated? Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  6. Method • Mixed qualitative and quantitative questionnaire • 200 BA SW students (Years 1-3/4) • 35 responses • L 1 (29%) (had new teaching on faith) • L 2 (37%) (negligible teaching faith/LGB) • L 3 (29%) (teaching on LGB/ negligible faith) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  7. Faith/ Religion/ Spirituality The following is most accurate… Spirituality/faith not match the above (14%) Muslim faith (6%) Christian Faith (40%) No faith (40%) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  8. Sexual orientation LGB 17% (6) ‘Straight’ 83% (29) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  9. How open are you about your faith/ sexuality on the SW programme? • ‘No problem’ Faith = 23 (66%) Sexuality = 26 (77%) • Guarded (‘a little’ to ‘would not be open’) Faith = 9 (26%) Sexuality = 7 (21%) Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  10. Comments • “Being a Muslim, I am wary of what people may think of myself due to terrorist attacks in the US & UK” • “I am passionate about my lack of faith” • “I have quite strict Christian values – also I’ve been struggling with some of my religious values while I have been on the degree –I’m quite happy about this though” Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  11. Further comments • “I would mention it if I felt it was relevant but I do not feel my sexuality has anything to do with my work or practice. From previous experiences, I would rather not inform people to be then put in a ‘box’. I would rather be known for my work and not my sexuality”. Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  12. Importance of faith/ sexuality in social work education • 90% rated both as very or vitally important • Over 60% rated both as requiring more time (otherwise ‘about right’) • “integral to service users..sexuality is private but deserves more attention as uncomfortable…” Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  13. Concerns/ suggestions about learning • “tutors compound sexuality stereotypes..they need training” • “lecturers unable to challenge negative sterotypes..equating paedophilia with gay men…I challenged with little support” Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  14. Concluding findings • Those who disclosed LGB or faith identity more likely to be guarded • Clear strong consensus for more teaching of both subjects • No apparent hostility/ devaluing of either sexuality or faith as subjects Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  15. Next steps • PhD study: sw eduation and faith/ sexual orientation • Extend questionnaire • Case studies: student/ academic experience • Interested in participation/ more information? matthew.gough@ntu.ac.uk Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

  16. References Banks, S (2006) Ethics and values in social work (third ed), Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan Dominelli, L. 2008. Anti-Racist Social Work. London: Palgrave. Fish, J (2008) Far from mundane: theorising heterosexism for social work education, Social Work Education, 27(2), March 2008, pp.182-193 Furman L, Benson P, Grimwood C and Canda E (2004) Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Education and Direct Practice at the Millennium: A Survey of UK Social Workers, British Journal of Social Work Vol 34, pp. 767-792 Gilligan, P and Furness S (2006) The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice: Views and Experiences of Social Workers and Students, British Journal of Social Work, Vol 36, pp. 617-637 Jeyasingham D (2008) Knowledge/ignorance and the construction of sexuality in social work education, Social Work Education, 27(2), pp.138-151.Mulé N (2006): Equity vs. Invisibility: Sexual Orientation Issues in SocialWork Ethics and Curricula Standards, Social Work Education, 25:6, 608-622 Parrott L (2006) Values and ethics in social work practice. Exeter: Learning Matters Trotter J, Brogatzki, L, Duggan L, Foster E and Levie J (2006) Revealing disagreement and discomfort through auto-ethnography and personal narrative: sexuality in social work education and practice,Qualitative Social Work, 5(3), pp.369-388 Wilcox, M (2003) Coming Out in Christianity: Religion, Identity, and Community. Bloomington Indiana: Indiana University Press Yip, A (2007). Sexual orientation discrimination in religious communities. In: Badgett, L., & Frank, J, (eds). Sexual Orientation Discrimination: An International Perspective. London: Routledge Different Kinds of Love: Matthew Gough. Beyond Belief Conference, Bradford University, September 2011

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