Journal Article

Charles Dickens, Social Worker in His Time

Andrews, Arlene Bowers

2012

Overview

As the world marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens's birth, social workers may take note of the contributions Dickens made to 19th century social reform. Ever the advocate for people who were poor and oppressed, Dickens, in his timeless fictional narratives, continues to have relevance for contemporary social justice advocacy. This article draws on Dickens's biography and writing to highlight select lessons of relevance to social work. The focus is on developing a professional lens, changing social norms, and interpreting case studies across ecological systems.

• Publisher: NASW PRESS,Oxford University Press
• Subject: 19th century / Academic Standards / Accreditation (Institutions) / Advocacy / Anniversaries / Authors / Behavior Standards / Biographies / Biography / Case Studies / Celebrations / Classic literature / Community Programs / Correctional Institutions / Debt (Financial) / Dickens Charles / Dickens, Charles (1812-1870) / Economic Status / Educational Change / Educational Policy / England / English Literature / Environmental Factors / Family (Sociological Unit) / Fathers / History, 19th Century / Humans / Liberal Arts / Literary themes / Literature, Modern / Low Income Groups / Medicine in Literature / Middle Class / Narratives / Nineteenth Century / Nineteenth Century Literature / Novelists / Novels / Poverty / Prisons / Reflective Teaching / Social Action / Social Behavior / Social Change / Social Conditions - history / Social Environment / Social Justice / Social Life / Social norms / Social Problems - history / Social Reform / Social Work / Social Workers / Sons / Thinking Skills / Victorian period / Young Children