This thesis examines the premise of women’s spirituality in social work practices in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research unfolds in different ways, principally through autoethnography, interview conversations, literature reviewed, as an interpretative qualitative study, supported by imagery, metaphor, storying methods of the Celtic methodology of the researcher. The international literature identifies a shortage of writings about women’s spirituality, however the making of meaning, meaning systems, beliefs, hopes and goals of workers and communities remain crucial. These forms of spirituality in social workspaces, and these cognitive existential perspectives enable ongoing meanings which this generation need apply to those tasks which it faces. It is argued that both the recognition of spirituality in the work environment, the importance of spirituality in informing identity, bring forth legacies of meaning as groundings which inform the art and science of relationship fundamental to social work. In Aotearoa these hold significance to social justice work, as another justification for this study given our island home can only thrive on respectful partnership between peoples’, our obligations and respect for the land and the sacred cosmos. The researcher drew from a sample of 17 ethnic women social workers in appreciative conversation, placing narratives alongside theories of doxy, feminist theories, narrative, Indigenous knowledge systems; each are offered as lens to the women’s understandings. Through these participants sensitive creative work with their enduring knowledge facing into human suffering today, the research reveals fascinating wild inventiveness, creativity, beauty, hopes, as creative feminine spiritual traditions of care. Listen! The world is alive!

Authors:
Merrill Simmons-Hansen, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, New Zealand

About the Presenter(s)
Slan agus beannacht'-greetings. I am a retired lecturer in social work based in first people knowledge. I work in PhD research alongside women cooperatively exploring words for spirituality, which reveal profound ways in which her world works.

Connect on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/in/merrillsimmonshansen/

Additional website of interest
http://spirit-aotearoa.org/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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