| Abstract: | Straipsnyje nagrinėjamos galios ir įgalinimo sampratos bei jų raiška socialinių paslaugų ir socialinio darbo profesiniame kontekste. Įgalinimas aptariamas keliais aspektais – kaip galių santykiai, įgalinimo lygmenys, įgalinimo šaltiniai, įgalinimas kaip profesionalus darbas, stipriųjų pusių perspektyva. Taip pat pateikiama įgalinimo kritika bei pabrėžiama, kad tai, kas vieną žmogų įgalina, kitą gali nugalinti. Pristatomas empirinis tyrimas, kuriuo siekta išsiaiškinti, kaip įgalinimo perspektyvos požiūriu patiriamas ir teikiamas socialines patirtis vertina paslaugų gavėjai ir paslaugų teikėjai. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidžia, kaip paslaugų gavėjai ir teikėjai vertina dalyvavimą ir lūkesčius dalyvauti formuojant paslaugų strategiją, pa(si)- renkant paslaugas bei paslaugų teikėją, vertinant paslaugų kokybę ir kt
This paper presents the theoretical aspects of the concept of empowerment and presents the empirical results, implying the expression of empowerment at different levels in the context of social services in Lithuania. Empowerment is discussed in several aspects – power relations, empowerment levels, sources of empowerment, empowerment as a professional social work, the strengths perspective, and empowerment criticism. Empirical research was conducted to uncover how social experiences are evaluated from the point of view by different social actors: users and service providers. The empowerment issue relates to the interpretation of power. Power is considered to be the defining element and main construct of the society. Understanding the phenomena of power and empowerment respectively can only be possible by detecting their reflections in macro, mezzo and micro levels. According Foucault, it is important to understand not only how the power occurs, but how the resistance to it is possible. The challenge of resistance to power, according to Foucault, lies in the individual level. So, an individual has ability to not only obey and demonstrate self-disciplined, but also a man is able to liberate his own self. Resistance is possible in the context of everyday life, after understanding and identifying the hindering powers of social environment, and stopping the reproduction of power relations imposed by authorities and institutions. Power dwells in human relations and subjectivity. Power as such is referred to certain individuals’ and organizations’ ability to reach their targeted, intended or unintended consequences towards other persons or organizations (Lord, Hutchison, 1993). According to Foucault’s perspective, the social worker obtains a “pastoral power” when he begins to perform the roles of care and control, which are designated to him by the laws and the system itself. [...] |
