Liberal and Conservative in Social Work Education: Exploring Student Experiences

Abstract

Claims of ‘liberal bias’ in higher education raise unique concerns for social work education in the United States. In a time of increasing conservatism in mainstream America, students who identify as political or social conservatives may find themselves particularly challenged by the perspectives, values and ideas they encounter in the social work classroom. This paper explores student perceptions of a ‘liberal’/‘conservative’ conflict in the social and educational environment of their MSW program. Drawing on Bourdieu's concepts of ‘habitus’ and the social ‘field’ as a framework for interpreting student interview data, we discuss perceptions of ‘liberal bias’ at the nexus of individual experience, educational processes, and broader socio‐political climate.