Empowering Women of Color

by Lorraine M. Gutiérrez, Lorraine Margot Gutierrez, Edith A. Lewis

Book Overview

Women of colour constitute a large proportion of most social work caseloads, and this is the first comprehensive textbook to address their unique needs. Recognizing that women of colour come from many disparate backgrounds, this book includes chapters by guest authors on particular communities, including African-American women, native American women, Latinas, Asian-Pacific women, and lesbian and bisexual women of colour.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231101171
• ISBN13: 9780231101172
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Should Be Required Reading In Every Social Work Curriculum

Who better to address the empowerment of women of color than women of color? Gutierrez, a Latina and Lewis, a Black woman of the African diaspora, have taken on this auspicious task by developing a model for social work practice. They present the historical, cultural, political and socioeconomic factors which have contributed to the problems and struggles faced by women of color. By use of example, some of them anecdotal, they relate the methods by which women of color can be empowered by drawing upon the strengths of their ancestors, raising their consciousness, building confidence, connecting with others and working in concert with nature, tradition and spirit. We are told that although racism, sexism and discrimination have contributed to the poverty of these women, they are a hopeful rather than a hopeless people who can be empowered when the practioner has used the methods outlined in this book. This book should be in the hands of every practitioner who works with women of color.