New article by executive producer Prisclla Osei

Check out Priscilla’s new article in the Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research on African motherhood and Black joy in Finland. The article is open access and available here.

Congratulations, Priscilla!

Abstract

Social work, as a profession rooted in social justice, advocates for marginalized groups. However, social work literature and curricula often depict Black communities through controlling images that emphasize social problems over resilience. The concept of Nordic exceptionalism portrays Finland as a welfare society, largely ignoring its colonial history, neoliberal influences, and ongoing racism. Despite this, contemporary austerity measures in Finland align with the processes identified by abolitionist social work as foundational to the development of a carceral welfare state. This article introduces the concept of Black joy as a counter-narrative to these controlling images within Finnish society. It examines Black joy through the experiences of African mothers living in Helsinki, using their own words and images. By analyzing texts and photographs provided by these mothers, the article employs thematic analysis to understand how these mothers view African motherhood in Finland. Key themes identified include the significance of embracing African culture, resilience, unconditional love, and viewing children as the future. The article concludes by discussing the implications for enhancing Finnish social work education by challenging controlling images of African mothers.