Social Work, the Americanization Movement and the Construction of Americans 1874–1930
Michael Reisch author Yoosun Park author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Publishing:29th Jun '26
£41.99
This title is due to be published on 29th June, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This book analyzes the role of social work in the Americanization Movement. It asserts that the emerging field of social work played a significant role in both the execution of the movement and the development and promulgation of theories and processes that rationalized its determination of the borders of inclusion and exclusion from the American nation and its polity.
While the Americanization movement as a national endeavor abated by the mid-20th century, its underlying assumptions still shape contemporary social work and the national discourses of belonging. As the first comprehensive historical study of social work’s role in the discourses of immigration, the book will fill a significant gap in social welfare history.
This volume introduces an important new field of study for scholars of social work, as well as students and academics of social history, ethnic studies, and political science. It is suitable for courses on social welfare policy, social welfare history, and social work ethics, as well as those studying immigration and the history of ethnic minorities in the U.S.
“After reading Social Work, the Americanization Movement and the Construction of Americans 1874-1930, one will never again look at social welfare history the same. Park and Reisch explore the Americanization movement’s deep connection to the construction of race and social class. They elucidate an historical period and show what it can teach us about America’s and the world’s challenges in the face of unprecedented global migration. Most importantly, the authors show the social work profession’s entanglement with racial assumptions, which have colored its policy and practice choices throughout its history.”
Mark J. Stern, Professor of Social Policy and History, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US
“This book provides important insights regarding how social work and social workers participated in the Americanization movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This movement emerged in response to widespread concerns about whether the United States could remain socially and politically cohesive amid a rapidly diversifying population. Social work and social workers played a significant role in these efforts, operating settlement houses, schools, and community programs designed to promote assimilation and social stability. This volume reveals the tensions between democratic ideals and exclusionary practices that shaped views of "American Identity" during this period and in the present.”
Lorraine M. Gutiérrez, Edith A. Lewis Collegiate Professor Emerita, University of Michigan, US
“This timely book sheds light on the Americanization Movement, probing the complexities of what it means to be American and the power dynamics that shape this identity. Through meticulous use of primary sources, the scholars critically examine social work's role in this project, tracing the historical implications to illuminate the profession's ongoing positionality and struggles amidst today's ideological cultural wars and on the eve of the U.S. Semi-quincentennial.”
Karen M. Staller, Professor of Social Work, University of Michigan, US
ISBN: 9780367769970
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
360 pages