Re-Gendering the Social Work Curriculum: New Realities and Complexities

With the advent of the 2nd wave of the women's movement, numerous voices within social work academia called for the inclusion of gendered content in the curriculum. The subsequent addition of content on women was a pivotal achievement for the social work profession. However, gender is an increasingly slippery concept. A current call for re-gendering the social work curriculum includes continued emphasis on the importance of the concept of gender while acknowledging that men have a gender, too. The call for a more comprehensive understanding of gender includes new conceptualizations of women; more complex understandings of feminism(s); content on men, masculinities, and transgender issues; and methods for teaching a critical gender consciousness. Specific class exercises and film recommendations are included.