Professional ‘imperialism’ and resistance: social Work in the Philippines

The sociology of professions has traditionally attempted to increase our understanding of categorisations of different occupations by reference to taxonomic hierarchies as well as the identification and explorationof characteristics that warrant „professional status‟. In many cases, these explorations take the form of historical accounts of professional activity. Rarely however, has the literature on professions explored processes of professionalization in developing, post-colonial contexts. This article contributes to this body of literature in the study of professions in a number of ways. Firstly, it „maps‟ the growth of social work in the Philippines, placing this account within a broader discussion of social work as an international activity (Harrison & Melville, 2010; Lyons, 2006) and identifying some of the key forms and features of social work in the Philippines. Consideration is given to the degree of professionalisation of social work within the country by exploring professional organisation, regulation and education. In doing this, the article offers a critical overview of the nature and preoccupations of social work in the Philippines and celebrates the invaluable contributions it makes to the country and its people.