-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Margaret F. Gibson, Intersecting Deviance: Social Work, Difference and the Legacy of Eugenics, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 45, Issue 1, January 2015, Pages 313–330, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bct131
- Share Icon Share
Abstract
How do we understand human difference, and what should we do with it? These are central questions of social work knowledge, practice and pedagogy. In recent years, ‘intersectionality’ has emerged as a useful construct in theorising how difference operates in social hierarchies. Too often, however, ‘intersectional’ discussions have led to increasingly fine divisions that isolate individuals and reify categories of difference. This article argues that an active engagement with history can promote a more nuanced and helpful approach to intersectionality, as a greater understanding of the past shakes up static perceptions of identity categories. The legacy of eugenics visible in present-day notions of ‘desirable reproduction’ is explored using the example of ‘queer parents of disabled children’. Two ways of looking at such a grouping illustrate different possible applications of intersectionality theory. A temporal, relational intersectionality is proposed—one that can be both historically responsive and situated in everyday narratives. The article concludes by addressing the social work implications of a historically aware, relational approach to difference.