The Caucus was founded in 1977, during the wider societal Women’s Movement, in response to the Task Force Report on the Status of Women in Social Work Education (Walker, cited in Clarke et al.) that outlined gender inequality and discrimination in the academy. Founding members also recognized the absence of women’s voices in social work curriculum, and a desire for female faculty to forge connections with each other for emotional support (Clarke, Howland & Wallace, 2006). The Chair of the Women’s Caucus is Kusum Bhatta.

The CASWE-ACFTS Women’s Caucus acts as an advisory body to the CASWE-ACFTS Executive and general membership by providing an inclusive space for social work educators and students to discuss and respond to gendered social justice issues within and beyond the academy. The Women’s Caucus is committed to intersectional, decolonizing and anti-racist feminism. We stand in solidarity with all peoples in the struggle for liberation, human rights and ecological justice. We support the Ninety Four Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the end of gender-based oppression and violence, and all forms of violence, including economic oppression, racism, ableism, and hetero/cis sexism. We invite the participation of women and everyone throughout the gender spectrum to help build our Caucus.