Poverty, inequality and contemporary social work

Abstract

This chapter examines contemporary social work practice in an era when poverty and inequality have become more deeply entrenched. It first considers the broader current position of social work as it relates to poverty and inequality, which are fundamental issues of social justice and human rights, before discussing R. Lister's taxonomy of the potential ways in which individuals and families respond to living in poverty: ‘getting by’, ‘getting (back) at’, ‘getting out’ and ‘getting organised’. This taxonomy of agency can also be used as the basis for the positioning of anti-poverty social work. The chapter also explores social work approaches to issues of poverty and inequality, as well as the areas of children and families' social work, mental health practice and work with asylum-seekers and refugees as a means of analysing the complex relationship between poverty, social work and social justice.