From Exceptionalism to Relationality: Responding to Mandatory Reporting in Texas Anti-Trans Directives

Authors

Sam Harrell, Portland State UniversityFollow
Sid Jordan, Portland State UniversityFollow
Stephanie Wahab, Portland State UniversityFollow

Published In

Affilia-Feminist Inquiry in Social Work

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

11-29-2022

Abstract

This manuscript responds to recent directives in Texas that would define the facilitation or provision of gender-affirming medical treatment for minors as “child abuse.” Specifically, we focus on the use of these directives to widen the scope of mandatory reporting laws. We briefly discuss the politics of mandatory reporting and the strategic appropriation of feminist, anti-violence narratives. We then critically analyze social work resistance to the Attorney General's opinion through a lens of exceptionalism. Finally, we discuss abolition feminism as a guidepost for critically questioning our field's allegiance to mandatory reporting as an ethical and evidence-based practice.

Rights

© The Author(s) 2022

Locate the Document

https://doi.org/10.1177/08861099221136632

DOI

10.1177/08861099221136632

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40543

Citation Details

Harrell, S., Jordan, S., & Wahab, S. (2023). From Exceptionalism to Relationality: Responding to Mandatory Reporting in Texas Anti-Trans Directives. Affilia, 38(1), 13-19.