Македонски центар за меѓународна соработка - МЦМС

Author: Biljana Stramsak
Date: 2008
PDF: feministicki-pocetoci-na-socijalnata-rabota-2008.pdf

The basis of this book represents my master’s work under the original title "Women – Pioneers in Social Work and their Influence on the Progress of Feminism”. The work was defended on April 21st 2008, before the commission composed of: Prof. Dr. Slobodanka Markovska, Prof. Dr. Verica Stamenkova Trajkova and Prof. Dr. Maria Donevska. The motivation for publishing of this work is a result of the desire to study the history of feminism, which represents inexhaustible treasure of material. This is particularly the case because of its influence on the professional social work, which has very modest archived documentation in Macedonia.  The wish to preserve a valuable item which may further encourage many new works, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) – Skopje financially supported this work, as a result of the competition for awarding grants for publications in the field of social sciences.

This book is primarily intended for social workers and students at the Institute for Social Work and Social Policy, but I believe that this book will also be useful for all those interested in the theoretical basis of social work, other professional workers and students from other, caretaking professions, who meet and work with people from both genders every day, in their planning and provision of services.   Although I am aware that this book cannot cover all the aspects of relatedness between the social work as profession and feminism as a movement, still, I hope that it may serve as guidelines for exploring a particular part of the history of the social work as profession, a part for which nothing has been written or explored in the Balkan region.

With reference to the contents and structure, the book largely borrows from the master’s work, with additional work in the introduction and conclusion. The short supplementation encompasses this brief preface as well as the index of names and definitions, At the end, I would like to extend my gratitude to all those providing assistance in the various phases of realization of my master's work, including its publication.

I owe gratitude to the members of the commission for their theoretical guidance in the course of preparation of the master’s work, as well as for the provided remarks and suggestions in the course of defending of the work, which are included in the final version prepared for publishing. Special thanks to my mentor, Prof. Dr. Slobodanka Markovska, who has unselfishly dedicated her time in the course of the preparation of the work, as well as for opening new perspectives through her theoretical counsel. Most honest gratitude for her humanity. It would not serve the justice if I do not express my gratitude to all my colleagues, friends who have helped me in the process of preparation of this work, through provision of appropriate literature, using internet, providing practical advice, especially for the shown interest and long conversation through which my stances were refined.  Through the initiative for financial support for publishing works of young scientists, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation is credited with the fast publication of this work. My honest gratitude to them!