November 7, 2009 9:00 am–10:15 am
San Antonio , TX

Brené Brown

Social Work Education: The Hustle for Worthiness and the Power of Story

Acclaimed scholar Brene Brown delivered a powerful Special Plenary address on authenticity and how to "stepping into your own story" to be the best social worker, educator, or excel at other personal goals. Summarizing her extensive research on fear, vulnerability, and shame; Brown discussed how these emotions can interfere with being authentic and having a resilient spirit and a sense of belonging.

In particular, social work educators have some important questions to consider. Brown advised that social work educators need to increase the teachings of positive emotions like joy, gratitude, love, and belonging. Brown reported some startling findings about the prevalence of poverty and injustice competencies in social work curricula. Specifically, her research found that social work students often feel guilty about being joyful when thinking of others' hardships. Further, Brown argued that the social work profession's "own hustle for worthiness" can hinder cultivating more positive emotions and that continuous awareness of these tendencies is needed.

An assistant social work professor at the University of Houston, Brown's research focuses on the Grounded Theory Methodology. Specific research interests concerning shame include its impact on individuals, families, organizations and communities, critical pedagogy, contextualized practice, deconstruction of media culture, and women's issues.