This handbook examines contemporary debates and developments in gender, sexuality, identity, and social transformation across diverse global contexts. It explores how social, cultural, economic, and political forces shape lived experiences and opportunities in a rapidly changing world, addressing issues ranging from LGBTQIA+ rights and gender diversity to entrepreneurship, climate change, violence, and social exclusion. It offers a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and possibilities associated with advancing equality, inclusion, and social justice in the twenty-first century.

Rajendra Baikady is a Social Work educator and researcher. He is the winner of Golda Meir Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2019-2020) and Confucius Studies Understanding China Fellowship (Post-Doctoral Research) at Shandong University Peoples Republic of China (2018-2019).

Jaroslaw Przeperski is Director Centre for Family Research and adjunct professor in the Social Work Department, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun Poland. He is also an expert on family matters in the Polish Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

Varoshini Nadesan is resident: Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions and a lecturerat the Department of Social Work in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa.

M. Rezaul Islam is Professor in Social Work,  Department of Public Health, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh 

Gao Jianguo is a Professor and former Head in the Department of Social Work, School of Philosophy and Social Development, Shandong University, Peoples Republic of China.