AOP recognizes that multiple forms of oppression can occur simultaneously within micro-, mezzo-, and macro-levels that uniquely impact marginalized people and communities. It works to eradicate oppression and challenge power structures through collective institutional and societal changes (Sakamoto & Pitner, 2005). Accordingly, AOP also promotes a deep reflection and development of a ‘critical consciousness’ to analyze, for example, how social work can be complicit in recreating and reinforcing structures of oppression, such as through unequal power dynamics between a social worker and service user.

Critical consciousness is the “process of continuously reflecting upon and examining how our own biases, assumptions and cultural worldview affect the way we perceive difference and power dynamics” (Sakamoto & Pitner, 2005, p. 441). Through the development of clear connections between social justice and social work practice, AOP offers a conceptual model for understanding the multiplicity of oppression, privilege, and power dynamics at a structural level.

1. Critical Reflection on Self in Practice

Social work is an inherently political role; it allows social workers to occupy a position of power and privilege via their access to resources and hierarchical structure of the social service sector. Therefore, it is crucial for social workers to be critically reflexive to avoid recreating oppressive social relations in practice (Healy, 2014). 

Asking ourselves questions like, “how does my social location create positions of privilege?” and “how may social divisions impact my ability to best meet this service user’s needs?” can create the foundation for reflection on how our own biographies shape and create power differentials in our practice. It is also important to note that while social workers occupy a position of power in a therapeutic relationship, one’s identity and social locations are dynamic and heavily dependent on the context one is in. For example, a racialized female social worker working with a white male service user might navigate power differentials based on her race and gender positions that do not reflect normative service user-service provider power imbalances. 

2. Critical Assessment of Service Users’ Experiences of Oppression

Critical social workers strive to comprehensively understand the diversity and multiplicity of oppression in service users’ lives. Personal, cultural, and structural processes each shape individuals’ problems, and the access they have to solutions. Critically analyzing the intersections of oppression such as gender, class, and race, allow us to understand how macro level policies, discourse, and processes impact service users’ lives. Similarly this critical analysis must also be turned inward, to understand how social work discourse and language use in framing of problems can contribute to sustain oppressive power structures (e.g. “disturbed, “at risk”) (Healy, 2014).  

3. Empowering Service Users

Empowering service users is one of the central tenets of AOP and strives to create empowerment processes both at the interpersonal and institutional level. At the interpersonal level, the process of “externalizing structural oppression” is key to being able to deconstruct experiences and recognize how social forces impact service users’ lives. This process allows people to see the true nature of their circumstances by analyzing the structures and institutions that impact and influence their ability for social mobility, economic prosperity, and educational attainment. At the institutional level, “anti-oppressive social workers promote changes to the organization and delivery of services in ways that enhance anti-oppressive practice and service user control” (Healy, 2014, p. 198). Practical ways to promote empowerment include ensuring that service users’ views and stated needs are incorporated into assessment and solution options. 

4. Working in Partnership

AOP prioritizes working in partnership with service users through collaborative efforts that position the service user as the expert in their own life. Consequently, service users must be included as much as possible in the decision-making processes that impact their life. This is achieved through a deliberate sharing of power and a commitment to transparency where the service user has the full information and awareness of the circumstances to make decisions in their best interest. Working in partnership attempts to balance unequal power dynamics by working against hierarchical structures to create a supportive environment where the service user is able to access the necessary resources and information to work collaboratively with a social worker (Healy, 2014). 

5. Minimal Intervention

A key principle of AOP is reducing oppressive and disempowering situations in social work (Healy, 2014). Utilizing AOP in social work means minimizing opportunities of social control by strategically intervening in the least intrusive way possible in the service users’ life. Early intervention and an emphasis on preventative services contribute to minimal intervention and less disruption in service users’ lives.