Abstract
As we write this editorial in March 2025, we are navigating unprecedented and urgent challenges as critical feminists, as social work scholars, and as academics. In recent months, simmering tensions and hostilities steeped in racism, transphobia, misogyny, xenophobia, and homophobia have boiled over across the United States, fueled by the current federal administration. As unabashed hatred spreads, three words—diversity, equity, and inclusion—have become focal points of debate and justifications for egregious and deliberate harm. Calls to eradicate programs, resources, and policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion – often derided in the shortened form of “DEI” – have been deployed by many politicians, state agents, and corporate leaders as a cover for blatantly discriminatory actions that target individuals from historically marginalized communities.
As wielded by its avowed opponents, “DEI” is vague and expansive, a shapeshifting term that those in positions of power can readily apply to anything that poses a barrier or a challenge to their ambitions. Once heralded as principles of progress, the language of diversity, equity, and inclusion now provokes resistance, suspicion, denigration, and defunding. Academic institutions have been one epicenter of this assault, with each day's news announcing further orders and funding reversals for universities, research projects, and programs. People that we know – students, faculty, staff – feel the targets on their backs, especially if they are doing the kind of critical, feminist work that Affilia was created to nurture and share. We all know people who have lost jobs, funding, visas, opportunities – and each of us has lost any sense of predictability or safety as we brace for the next onslaught.
What do the people around us do when the words and practices of inclusion are outlawed? While some reject these terms that once fostered a sense of belonging and community, others avoid discussing them altogether. Some researchers and educators have been advised to use a thesaurus to replace anything that too clearly fits with “DEI” searches, while others have proactively erased them from their documents. A widely circulated list of “disappearing words from federal agencies” in academic circles includes terms such as “women,” “mental health,” “victim,” “trauma,” and “gender-based violence,” and more, marking them as potential indicators of “DEI” (Yourish et al., 2025).
The attempted eradication of diversity, equity, and inclusion terms and commitments serves larger efforts to erase the presence and ideas of BIPOC, queer, trans, and migrant community members from universities and, more broadly, from public discourse. Academia is under attack from multiple directions, with its highest tenets—academic freedom, autonomy over curriculum and education, and freedom of speech and expression—under siege.
Many of us feel underprepared. Our work as critical feminist social work scholars has often focused on combating subtle and cloaked forms of oppression. We have taught each other to address the explicit and implicit forms of discrimination, to notice the cumulative histories and structures that surround us, to recognize the daily papercuts of microaggressions. But there is nothing micro about the present aggression; instead of papercuts, we are watching people being punched in the face while others celebrate. We are facing state aggression that isn't pretending to hide, hostility that enables everyday people around us to lean into their hatred, their propensity to “anti-DEI”, to uniformity, inequity, and exclusion.
In US-based universities, feminist social workers stand at a crossroads, between the social work profession—whose core values are rooted in advocating for social justice, embracing diversity, championing equity, and striving for inclusion—and a social and political climate where these principles have been battered and burned. As excessive as it might sound to others, we can see that our life's work is at stake in the current US academy. Every word we have written, every topic we have studied, and every population we have served is under direct attack. While feminists and scholars have long encountered systemic hostilities around the world, the ruthless actions of the current US state are notable for their speed, totalizing scope, and unapologetic brutality.
Affilia's Commitment
Affilia's editors have long written about the need to fight for justice in times of social and political turmoil (see e.g., Kim et al., 2021; Park et al., 2017; Park et al., 2020; Zelnick ety al., 2023). Through their compelling writing, they have consistently provided direction, support, and guidance, while also challenging us to embody the courage required to navigate complex academic and social landscapes.
We all know that doing critical feminist work is never the easiest option. We encourage anyone who is looking for inspiration and encouragement on how to take on current challenges to read these works across the years as they reaffirm Affilia's steadfast commitment to dismantling unjust power structures and oppressive social systems (Gibson et al., 2024). This has not changed. We know that our broader Affilia community is so important. Together, we expand the body of knowledge rooted in critical feminisms and share strategies for how to bring about meaningful change (Diaz et al., 2024; Karandikar et al., 2024). Opponents wouldn’t work so hard to discredit and dismantle critical scholarship if it weren’t a threat. There is more to do, and our authors and reviewers know the stakes as well as anyone. We are grateful for all that you do.
We can all benefit from returning to and reaffirming the six principles of the social work profession, as outlined by the US-based National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics (2021). In today's social and political climate, these shared principles remind us that we need to remain steadfast in the face of adversity. Reminding others of these obligations can be a crucial tool for advocacy.
The social work profession is guided by core principles that ensure ethical, effective, and compassionate practice. The key principles include:
Service—Social workers’ primary goal is to help people in need and address social problems. As critical feminists, we fully embrace and practice this foundational principle of social work. Serving marginalized communities is central to our daily lives and professional commitments. Social Justice—Social workers challenge social injustices, advocate for marginalized communities, and strive for equality. Similarly, critical feminists are dedicated to dismantling patriarchal structures, capitalism, and other intersecting systems of oppression. Dignity and Worth of the Person – Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person. Critical feminism aligns with this by centering the lived experiences of marginalized groups and rejecting binary perspectives. Our approach is inclusive, embracing the diversity and complexity of identities. Importance of Human Relationships– Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships. Critical feminists extend this by critiquing power dynamics in relationships and institutions, and advocating for collective resistance and solidarity. Integrity – Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner. Social workers are committed to honesty, responsibility, and ethical practice. Critical feminists build upon this by challenging systems that uphold systemic inequalities, particularly concerning gender, race, and class. We question dominant ethical frameworks and advocate for ethical reflexivity and intersectional justice. Competence – Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise. Critical feminists value diverse ways of knowing, including lived experiences and feminist standpoint epistemology, as essential to building a more just and informed practice.
The intersection of these social work principles and critical feminism establishes a powerful framework for advocacy, intervention, and systemic change, reinforcing the non-negotiable tenets of the social work profession. Upon entering this field, we committed to upholding these principles. Now, more than ever, we must reaffirm that commitment. Adhering to and upholding the values and ethics of social work is non-negotiable.
As we define what is non-negotiable, we must also distinguish between what lies within our control and what does not. While the challenges beyond our control may seem insurmountable, our social work legacy compels us to examine history and context. We must reflect on how we arrived at this moment and consider how our ancestors navigated circumstances that, while different, were equally arduous. It is frustrating—if not infuriating—to be expected to simply adapt to the present moment under the rationale that “this has happened before”. However, understanding our lived realities requires situating them within the broader historical forces that have shaped our path. From early feminist scholars and civil rights activists to freedom fighters and decolonial leaders, those whose names have been immortalized and those who remain unrecognized, each has made sacrifices in their own way and in their own time. Their struggles offer invaluable lessons, and their resilience serves as a guide.
We are not passive observers of history; we are its authors. Ensuring that we stand on the right side of history is within our control. Reading, learning, and educating ourselves are within our control. Building our resistance is within our control. And coming together in solidarity and community, that too remains firmly within our control.
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” With this quote, Mahatma Gandhi reminds us that even small actions can create a profound impact. In times like these, we must all identify our own small acts of resistance. We must strategize and develop a keen assessment of how we can best collectivize risk as we resist in a sustainable way. Challenges should not weaken our spirit; instead, they should strengthen our courage and conviction, driving us to amplify our cause. Our voices and writing must not waver—on the contrary, we must become even more articulate, poignant, and direct. Through education and awareness, we must remain committed to our core mission of social justice advocacy.
Moreover, our resistance must be sustainable. Engaging in long-term, effective activism requires balance. We must prevent burnout and ensure we do not harm ourselves, each other, or the world around us. Building strong support networks and relying on our communities are essential. Sharing responsibilities and emotional burdens strengthens our efforts. Likewise, self-care and reflection are not just beneficial but vital for resilience.
Writing this editorial and sharing our voices and perspectives are acts of resistance that sustain us. Through the Affilia platform, we encourage you to do the same. In the months and years ahead, we invite you to submit your critical and thought-provoking work—your research, stories, writing, and reflections. You inspire us and help move our collective struggle forward.
