1st Edition
Sexuality, Sexual and Gender Identities and Intimacy Research in Social Work and Social Care A Lifecourse Epistemology
Until now, sexuality has been treated as a specialist topic or area of specialist social work practice. This book cuts across all areas of the discipline. It examines the relationship between sexuality, sexual identities and intimacies and the life course, and showcases a range of issues pertinent to social work through these lenses. It opens up new possibilities for better understanding sexuality in social work, and contains empirical work and theorising about sexuality, intimacy and gender not currently found in a traditional course on life course theory and practice.
The chapters position new areas of scholarship in sexuality including trans perspectives, masculinities, bisexuality and the voices of other gender and sexual minority populations within a life course trajectory. Empirical research picks up on the broader public health and well-being agenda with a strong focus on challenging normative theories to promote human rights and justice for marginalised individuals and groups.
Sexuality, Sexual and Gender Identities and Intimacy Research in Social Work and Social Care will significantly enhance any core texts on life course theory and practice, anti-oppression and anti-discriminatory theories for professionals. It should be considered essential reading for academics, practitioners and undergraduate and postgraduate students.
List of figures and tables; Foreword; Acknowledgements; List of contributors; Chapter 1. Sexuality, sexual and gender identities and intimacy research in social work and social care: What does the life course lens have to offer? (Trish Hafford-Letchfield and Priscilla Dunk-West); Chapter 2. Gender non-conforming children, trans youth and their family: Identifying best evidences and practices for social work interventions (Annie Pullen Sansfaçon); Chapter 3. Combatting homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools through family engagement (Trish Hafford-Letchfield, Christine Cocker, Peter Ryan, Mary Martin, Rosalind Scott and Sarah Carr); Chapter 4. Intimacy in young women's friendships: Symbols and rituals (Katie Letchfield and Trish Hafford-Letchfield); Chapter 5. Home and ‘hood’: middle-aged gay men’s stories of homes and neighbourhoods (Paul Simpson); Chapter 6. Transgender people negotiating intimate relationships (Damien W. Riggs, Henry von Doussa and Jennifer Power); Chapter 7. ‘Out’ and about at work: Institutionalised heteronormativity on relationships and employment (Alfonso Pezzella); Chapter 8. Measuring relationship satisfaction: Implications for social work practice (Jill Chonody, Jacqui Gabb, Mike Killian and Priscilla Dunk-West); Chapter 9. Bisexuality and ageing: why it matters for social work practice (Kathryn Almack, Rebecca L. Jones and Rachael M. Scicluna); Chapter 10. Single women living alone in later life: Evidence from Understanding Society data (Hafiz Khan, Trish Hafford-Letchfield and Nicky Lambert); Chapter 11. Stories of intimacy and sexuality in later life: Solo women speak (Nicky Lambert, Trish Hafford-Letchfield, Hafiz Khan, Ellouise Long, Dominique Brady and Lisa Clarke); Chapter 12. Sexuality, gender and intimacy, reflecting on professional practice (Priscilla Dunk-West and Trish Hafford-Letchfield); Index
Biography
Priscilla Dunk-West is Senior Lecturer in social work at Flinders University, Australia. Her practice background was in London where she worked in child protection with families, children and young people before specialising in sexual health in Australia. Her research focuses on social work and sexuality, everyday sexuality and intimacy, long-term relationships and positive post separation parenting.
Trish Hafford-Letchfield is a qualified nurse, social worker and educator who has been working in higher education since 2003. Trish is Professor of Social Care at Middlesex University and Social Work Research Fellow at the University of Stellenbosch, in South Africa. Her research interests are diverse including sexualities and sexual identities, older people from marginalised communities, equality issues in health and social care and the use of the arts in education and practice to promote community engagement.
