Application of Feminist Theory to the Case of Ella Schultz
Ella Schultz is a 16-year-old who has been chronically mistreated by her father and neglected by her mother (Walden University, n.d.). As a result, she became a homeless individual, developed trauma, and is now battling to regain a feeling of safety and trust in relationships: Application of Feminist Theory to the Case of Ella Schultz.
The theory attributes Ella’s problems to patriarchal inequalities of power in her home, such that her father held power and used violence as a tool of dominance. Her mother remained unassertive due to social conditioning and denial. The dynamic behavior is typical of patriarchal systems that isolate women and children.
According to feminist social work perspectives, a social worker’s task is that of empowerment facilitation and not that of a source of authority (Franklin & Jordan, 2024). In Ella’s case, it is that of supporting her real-world reality, affirming the use of self-expression, and allowing her to reclaim agency. Therapy should be in alignment with Ella’s truth, and she should have total engagement in the decision-making processes of recovery. Assessment questions might include: “How does safety and support manifest to you in relationships?” and “What are a few things that you think you are capable of doing in rebuilding your life but still retaining your independence and sense of self?”
One intervention is a feminist trauma-informed therapy to support Ella in processing her abuse and affirming her agency and sense of self (Morgan et al., 2025). Another intervention is conducting mother-daughter therapy sessions to restore trust, but only if the mother is willing to assume responsibility. Ella can apply these through conducting weekly sessions and establishing boundaries to ensure safety and trust. The effectiveness of trauma-informed therapy might be gauged based on Ella’s self-reporting that she feels emotionally stable, empowered, and attends therapy sessions frequently.
To ensure that cooperation is sustained, the social worker will use analogous speech, support Ella’s choices, and give Ella mutual control over choices along the course of treatment. One of the advantages of a feminist approach is that it advocates empowerment of the client and working through systemic oppression as a primary goal (Fotaki & Pullen, 2023). A disadvantage is that it may require more time and client preparation to explore structural dynamics, which is challenging with adolescents like Ella.
References
Fotaki, M., & Pullen, A. (2023). Feminist theories and activist practices in organization studies. Organization Studies, 45(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/01708406231209861
Franklin, C., & Jordan, C. (2024). Turners social work treatment (7th ed.). Oxford University Press Academic. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780197678046
Morgan, L., Nadar, S., & Keygnaert, I. (2025). “Stay with the body”: Facilitating integrative silence in community-based sexual trauma care. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2025.2510020
Walden University. (n.d.). Theory into practice: Four social work case studies. Walden University, LLC.
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Question
Readings::
- Turner’s Social Work Treatment 7th edition
- Chapter 9, “Strengths Perspective” (pp. H78–H87)
- Chapter 8, “Client-Centered Theory and Humanistic Theories” (pp. H128–H138)
- Chapter 14, “Fourth-Wave Feminist Social Work” (pp. H128–H138)
- Feminist social work pedagogy: personal, cultural and structural advocacy in the academy https://doi.org/10.1080/
02615479.2020.1774533
- Review and focus on the same case study that you used in Week 2.
- Use the Analysis of a Theory Worksheet to help you dissect the theory. Use this tool to dissect the theory, employ the information in the table to complete your Assignment, and then keep it to add to your Theories Study Guide in Week 11.
Application of Feminist Theory to the Case of Ella Schultz
QUESTION:
- *In 1–2 sentences, identify and describe the problem to be worked on in your chosen case study.
- *In 1–2 sentences, explain how feminist theory you are utilizing defines and explains the cause of the problem.
- *In 1–2 sentences, use feminist theory to describe the role of the social worker to facilitate change in the case study.
- *In the assessment phase, identify two assessment questions you will ask to explore what the client’s goals are and how they will get there.
- Remember, feminist theory should be driving the assessment.
- *Describe two interventions to address the problem and explain how the clients will implement the interventions.
- Remember, feminist theory should be driving the interventions.
- *In 2–3 sentences, explain how you would determine if one of the interventions you identified is effective with the client.
- *Explain how, specifically, you will set the tone throughout your work with the client to reduce the hierarchical relationship and make it more collaborative.
- *Analyze one strength and one limitation of feminist theory in working with the client.
- Be sure to:
- Identify and correctly reference the case study you have chosen.
Submit also, as a separate document, your Week 7 Analysis of a Theory Worksheet.

