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Research article
First published online June 30, 2009

Vulnerability: Questioning the certainties in social work and health

Barbara FawcettView all authors and affiliations
Volume 52, Issue 4
https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872809104251

Abstract

English
Vulnerability is a policy and practice concept which is often ascribed a fixed meaning with universal connotations. In this article, different conceptualizations of vulnerability are examined. It is argued that this exploration militates against the erosion of self-determination and autonomy and revitalizes working relationships between service users and professionals.
French
Vulnérabilité est un concept de politique et de pratique auquel est souvent attribuée une signification fixe aux connotations universelles. Dans cet article, les conceptualisations différentes de la vulnérabilité sont examinées. Il y est discuté que cette exploration milite contre l’érosion de l’autodétermination et de l’autonomie et revitalise des rapports de travail entre les usagers des services et les professionnels.
Spanish
La vulnerabilidad es un concepto de política y práctica social al que se adscribe un significado fijo, con connotaciones universales. Se examinan diferentes conceptualizaciones de vulnerabilidad. Se arguye que este examen milita en contra de la erosión de la autodeterminación y la autonomía, y revitaliza las relaciones de trabajo entre los usuarios de servicios y los profesionales.

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1.
1. `Care' is used here in the sense of being looked after and is contrasted with access to self-directed personal assistance.
2.
2. See for example, Bracken and Thomas (2005), Clarke (2001), Davies and Leonard (2004), Fawcett et al. (2004) and Webb (2006), among many others.

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Published In

Volume 52, Issue 4
Pages: 473 - 484
Article first published online: June 30, 2009
Issue published: July 2009

Keywords

  1. constructionism
  2. mental health
  3. older women
  4. vulnerability

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History

Published online: June 30, 2009
Issue published: July 2009

Authors

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Barbara Fawcett
Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney, NSW 2006n, Australia, [email protected]
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