Synergy between western practice and Chinese culture: Social work intervention for unemployed men in Hong Kong

Abstract

Hong Kong has recently suffered from increasing unemployment. Unemployed Chinese men are haunted by male chauvinism and paternalism, and cannot cope well with the difficulties. This article puts forward an intervention model of a mutual help group which works at individual, group, to societal levels, by creative blending of traditional Chinese culture and westernised social work intervention models, to help restructure self-concept, familial and social relationships. The suggested model provides reference to other oriental cultures in the Asia Pacific region.