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Critical thinking and creativity in a social work diversity course: challenging students to “think outside the box”
- Author:
- JOHNSTON Lon B.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 19(5), July 2009, pp.646-656.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Social work education must include skills that successfully prepare students to think critically, and be creative in finding solutions to both old and new problems. This can be a daunting task for social work educators. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) mandates that all accredited social work programs teach these critical thinking skills. This article describes a human behaviour social work diversity course that fulfils the CSWE's requirement by challenging students to think critically, engage in self-reflection, and utilise creativity while interacting with issues of race and ethnicity, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. The overall goal of the course is to teach students to think outside the box. A literature review, including definitions of critical thinking, is also presented. An overview of the course, followed by a description of the course assignments that require the students to engage in critical thinking: the book analysis; a creative interpretation; and an out of comfort zone experience. The author concludes with a discussion of the evaluation of these assignments.
Still among the missing? A content analysis of LGBT articles in social work journals, 1998–2009
- Authors:
- JOHNSTON Lon B., STEWART Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 25(2), 2013, pp.232-243.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In 2002, Van Voorhis and Wagner published an article that examined how often, between 1988 and 1997, four major American social work journals published content on gay and lesbian people (Social Work, Child Welfare, Social Service Review, and Families in Society). This content analysis is a follow-up to the previous one to see if the findings were different when the same four journals were examined between 1998 and 2009. As with the Van Voorhis and Wagner study, articles were coded depending upon their focus on HIV/AIDS and the gay community or other issues impacting gays and lesbians. Similarly, articles were coded depending on whether they focused on the client, worker, or macro system. This study found a decrease in the number of same-sex articles from 77 in the first analysis to only 50 in the present one. Furthermore, there was a decrease of almost 90% in the number of articles on HIV/AIDS, from 51 to 5. Van Voorhis and Wagner indicated that social work educators would not be able to easily find gay and lesbian content if they had to rely only on the four major journals. This study reaches a similar conclusion. (Edited publisher abstract)
Lesbians and gay men embrace their sexual orientation after conversion therapy and ex-gay ministries a qualitative study
- Authors:
- JOHNSTON Lon B., JENKINS David
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 4(3), 2006, pp.61-82.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article examines narratives of gay men and lesbians who participated in conversion therapies and/or ex-gay ministries in order to change their sexual orientation to that of heterosexual. Data for this study were gathered through an analysis of the stories of 14 people, published in a document titled Finally Free, who describe their negative experiences with conversion therapy through ex-gay ministries. Analysis of the data revealed seven common psychosocial issues faced by gay men and lesbians who turned to conversion therapy in an attempt to become heterosexual. These issues provide knowledge for social workers' intervention with gay men and lesbians seeking healing and personal growth after participating in conversion therapy and ex-gay ministries. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Unethical treatment of gay and lesbian people with conversion therapy
- Authors:
- JENKINS David, JOHNSTON Lon B.
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 85(4), October 2004, pp.557-561.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Addressing a neglected topic, the authors remind US social work educators and practitioners of the profession’s clear prohibitions against recommending or offering conversion or reparative therapy (ex-gay ministry) to change a gay or lesbian person’s sexual orientation or stop same-sex sexual behavior. Reviewed here, the National Association of Social Workers Committee on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues cites values and ethical principles such action could breach: ethical use of research findings, superiority of service to others over one’s values and belief system, integrity, competence, social justice, innate personal dignity and the central importance of a supportive, accepting relationship.
A gay and lesbian congregation seeks social justice for other marginalised communities
- Authors:
- JOHNSTON Lon B., JEMKINS David
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 16(3/4), 2004, pp.193-205.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, Texas, is the world's largest gay and lesbian congregation. As an unabashedly liberal church, the Cathedral of Hope views social justice as the foundation of theological beliefs and the ehart of community building activities with other marginalized and oppressed people. These actions of social justice and community building have produced an unexpected outcome. Social justice has been returned to this congregation in the form of community affirmation, acceptance, recognition, and advocacy. Thus, one significant way for gays and lesbians to achieve social justice is to work for the same with other oppressed people, devoid of strings or hidden agendas. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Coming out in mid-adulthood: building a new identity
- Authors:
- JOHNSTON Lon B., JENKINS David
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 16(2), 2004, pp.19-41.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper presents results of an exploratory study that examined psychosocial issues faced by gay men and lesbians who come out in mid-adulthood. Analysis of the data obtained through a semi-structured interview instrument revealed six common themes faced by this population: coming out in mid-adulthood disrupts relationships; the loss of everything is feared; self-destructive behaviors are used to cope with heterosexism and oppression; the loss of a "normal" adolescence is grieved; religion is the most oppressive force encountered; and coming out in mid-adulthood requires great courage and strength. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)