Discovering Body Awareness Through the Lens of Social Work Students: Gender, Awareness-Perception, and Disembodied Education

Authors : Sara Nilgün Aldoğan, Özlem Cankurtaran

Pages : 550-561

Doi:10.26466/opusjsr.1689589

View : 130 | Download : 89

Publication Date : 2025-05-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :It is widely acknowledged in the field of social work that the body has been marginalized both theoretically and in educational and practical contexts. One significant reason for this exclusion appears to be the lack of research addressing body awareness in the discipline. In this context, this study explores the argument that body awareness is underdeveloped within social work and aims to present undergraduate social work students\\\' reflections and personal experiences regarding the place of the body in social work education. Conducted as a qualitative study, this research adopts a realist ontological perspective and analyzes participants\\\' written reflections using Braun & Clarke\\\'s thematic analysis method. Data were collected from 61 students in their 3rd and 4th years through open-ended questions. The analysis revealed five key themes: defining body awareness, confusion between body awareness and body image, the impact of gender on body awareness, the role of bodily practices, and body awareness in social work education and practice. The study found that body awareness is not addressed in a systematic or holistic manner within social work curricula. The findings emphasize the need for the structured integration of both theoretical and experiential components of body awareness into social work education, given its critical role in professional competence and the quality of client relationships.
Keywords : Beden farkındalığı, sosyal hizmet eğitimi, sosyal hizmet öğrencileri, toplumsal cinsiyet, beden algısı.

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