Japanese Sociological Review
Online ISSN : 1884-2755
Print ISSN : 0021-5414
ISSN-L : 0021-5414
Special Issue
Sociology in Social Work Education
Akiko MISHIMA
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2010 Volume 61 Issue 3 Pages 307-320

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Abstract

The Certified Social Workers and Certified Care Workers Act was enacted in 1987 in Japan. After the enactments, sociology has been included in the national examination for the acquisition of a social worker's license.
This paper examines narratives in sociology and education in sociology in social work education and related academic studies. This study will address the scope of sociology within the realm of social work.
First, I will explain the present state of social work education in Japan. Second, it will focus on the manner in which sociology influences social work education, related academic studies, and a social worker's practice. Third, I will consider the manner in which sociology contributes to social work education, related academic studies, and a social worker's practice.
Although sociological theories are presently selected arbitrarily in social work education, sociology has had an incredible impact on social work. For example, institutions were deinstitutionalized, paternalism was rejected, and selfdetermination and "users' narratives" acquired respect. It is believed that transformations of this nature have made a social worker's methods postmodern.
However, there is a sanctuary that postmodern social work cannot cover. I argue that this profession presently has two different methods of intervention. The first method of intervention is postmodern care, while the other is evidence-based social work that supports powerful intervention. The present situation of social workers should be considered in order to initiate sociological discussions in the realm of social work.

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© 2010 The Japan Sociological Society
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