Sociology for Social Workers and Probation Officers

SOCIOLOGY FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND PROBATION OFFICERS Cree, V. (ed.) (1999) 2nd edition, London: Routledge, pp.272 (pbk) £26.99 ISBN 978-0-415-15016-3 Cree offers a well-crafted and accessible introduction to sociological theory. The first chapter introduces definitions and perspectives and the following seven chapters address key concepts. Included are focused accounts of frameworks that structure the social environment. Obvious contenders like 'family' and 'community' are joined by 'health and illness', and 'crime and deviance'. Each chapter follows the same template: an introduction to the concept; some theoretical tools for study; and links between theory and practice. The section on gender is particularly strong, presenting an even-handed picture of feminist positions. The text book is written explicitly to show the usefulness of 'thinking sociologically1, of placing personalised understanding in a social context. This move is examined explicitly in the preface and in the final chapter, where Cree offers ways of integrating sociological thinking into practice. Perhaps the most attractive part of this book is Cree's unwavering and unhidden belief that understanding the social world, and using the conceptual tools offered by sociology, helps practitioners to work. It is an ambitious project. Recognising that both sociology and social work 'may be regarded as an integral part of the process through which society investigates, controls and manages (or, to use Foucault's terminology, 'disciplines') its citizens' (p. 6) is not comfortable. Without this understanding, Cree argues, social workers run the risk of perpetuating oppression and discrimination. Working from this stance to offer a comprehensible account of theory is a challenge well-answered. Cree is interested in how concepts develop over time and in discursive explanations. Her approach in the book is based on broad questions paraphrased from Foucault (Cree, 1995). These questions frame the link between structural explanations and individual actions that can be hard to bring into practice situations. I found her explanations of major approaches compelling; from Marx to Rousseau, from identity politics to the post modern turn, the short entries are consistent, clear and readable. It is hard to find fault with what is in this book but, despite the title, probation officers are not well served here. There is almost no mention of probation work or workers and, worse, some comments could be inimical. For example, she comments that the use of the term 'offender' could be seen as discriminatory (p. 173). This may be true but is unhelpful to practitioners whose organisational structure demands the use of the word. Omissions are everywhere; the section on family does not look at criminal or criminalised families, the section on community looks at gender, sexuality, age and disability, but not offending. …