Institutional Racism and Individual Agency

Institutional racism is a principal factor in the exclusion and oppression of racialized groups.  Social work scholars have examined the organizational indicators, attitudes, and actions of staff that contribute to institutional racism in order to elucidate its function.  However, an understanding of the interplay between institutions and individuals within institutional racism has remained largely elusive. This paper aims to address this gap.  Using the work of French philosopher Michel Foucault and his theorization of disciplinary power, this paper presents a case study of one social worker’s efforts to address racism in her organization. The result is a unique understanding of institutional racism that considers the dynamic interactions between institutional constraints and individual agency. Such an analysis enables those in direct practice as well as in leadership roles who are committed to anti-oppression social work to understand the barriers and routes to anti-racist institutional change.