The dignity circle: how to promote dignity in social work practice and policy?

Abstract

According to the International Federation of Social Workers, social work has always been a human rights profession. However, the legalistic language of human rights is often found to be of limited use in the everyday practice of social workers. This article offers a practical and relatable translation of human rights language by operationalising the central human rights value 'human dignity'. In the city of Utrecht, The Netherlands, empirical qualitative research was conducted in order to investigate what dignity might entail for social workers and service-users. The study reveals four different ways in which service-users experience their dignity to be violated: being seen or treated as an object, an empty space, a child or a monster. Conversely, social workers and service-users also try to maintain dignity in four ways: by treating people as a unique person, a participant, an adult or a (professional) friend. Together, these modes of dignity violation and dignity promotion form a typology termed 'the dignity circle'. The dignity circle enables practitioners and policymakers to promote dignity in social work whilst helping them to consider the dilemmas and complexities involved. In this way, the dignity circle provides a practical tool for social work as a human rights profession.

‘The Pandemic Affected My Life in a Negative Way’: The Experiences of Estonian Children in Child Protective Services During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

“…Therefore, it can be argued that children's wishes and views concerning the pandemic and their future have been ignored. Children have the fundamental human right to participate in decisions affecting their lives, which can also enhance decision‐making processes and outcomes by ensuring that decisions are more inclusive, responsive and tailored to their specific needs, including in crises (McCafferty, 2017 ; Schmidt et al, 2020 ; Vis et al, 2011 ). As the pandemic continues to impede children's participation rights, it is important to re‐evaluate and strengthen systems supporting and protecting children in need (Cuevas‐Parra, 2021 ; Herrenkohl et al, 2021 , p. 13).…”

In praise of awkwardness in the field: Increasing our understanding of relational concepts by reflecting on researchers’ emotion work

“…(1) how peer support works to promote dignity in relation to dignity violating practices that also occur in the context of care and support (Schmidt et al, 2018), and (2) the way dignity promotion takes shape in unequal circumstances, like those between social workers and service-users, by performing what was later termed 'equalising dignity work' (Schmidt, 2022).…”

“…Service-users find peer groups to be a safe space that counters experiences of inequality (e.g. being misunderstood, being stigmatised) that are prominent in other relationships of care and support and society more generally (Schmidt et al, 2018). My presence at the discussion nights without contributing had threatened, although mildly, these mechanisms of dignity promotion.…”

Chronicling the Experiences of Life Sciences Teachers and Learners on the Usage of Enquiry-Based Learning in Enhancing Learners’ Academic Performance

“…According to interpretivism, meanings and understandings at the social and experiential levels form the intersubjective foundation of reality (Galimberti & Spanò, 2017). The foundation of interpretivism is the qualitative approach to data collecting, which includes observation and interviewing (Schmidt, 2020). This study used a qualitative research approach as a result.…”