Social Justice and Social Work

by

Elizabeth D. Hutchison

Introduction

Social justice is recognized as a core value of social work, and justice-oriented social work has roots in the early history of the profession. However, there are controversies about the meaning of social justice and the most appropriate theoretical approach for justice-oriented social work. There are also challenges in translating conceptualizations of social justice into practice. Although social research was a method of promoting social justice in the early settlement houses, there is limited contemporary guidance on using social work research as a tool for promoting social justice. There are also controversies about the best pedagogy for teaching about social justice in social work education programs. In recent years social work scholars have expanded the conversation about social justice to include global social justice.

General Overviews

The U.S. National Association of Social Workers 1999 identifies social justice as one of the core values of social work. Finn and Jacobson 2008a provides an overview of the relationship between social justice and social work. Delaney 2005 discusses the Canadian social work perspective on social justice. Finn and Jacobson 2008b provides a comprehensive framework for engaging in social justice–oriented social work practice. Gil 1998 focuses on strategies to overcome injustice and oppression.

• Delaney, Roger. 2005. Social justice. In Encyclopedia of Canadian social work. Edited by Francis J. Turner, 370–371. Waterloo, ON: Wilfred Laurier Univ. Press.

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  A brief encyclopedia entry that discusses social justice as prescribed by the Canadian Association of Social Workers code of ethics. Provides an overview of social justice from the Canadian social work perspective and invites international comparisons.

• Finn, Janet L., and Maxine Jacobson. 2008a. Social justice. In Encyclopedia of social work. Vol. 4. 20th ed. Edited by Terry Mizrahi and Larry E. Davis, 44–52. New York: National Association of Social Workers Press and Oxford Univ. Press.

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  An encyclopedia entry that provides an overview of the relationship between social justice and social work. An excellent overview for students and social work educators.

• Finn, Janet L., and Maxine Jacobson. 2008b. Just practice: A social justice approach to social work. 2d ed. Peosta, IA: Eddie Bowers.

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  A textbook that presents a comprehensive framework for social justice–oriented social work practice. Builds on five themes: meaning, context, power, history, and possibility. Uses a participatory learning approach and is full of action exercises and questions for individual and group critical reflection. Excellent resource for both students and instructors.

• Gil, David G. 1998. Confronting injustice and oppression: Concepts and strategies for social workers. New York: Columbia Univ. Press.

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  A book-length discussion of how injustice and oppression can be overcome. Calls on social workers to embrace the values of equality, liberty, cooperation, and community. Identifies violence, unemployment, racism, and poverty as the primary societal injustices. Provides a hopeful perspective for student social workers.

• Journal of Progressive Human Services.

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  Covers social issues and professional responses from a progressive perspective. Encourages articles that focus on oppression and empowerment. A good journal to peruse to identify contemporary themes related to social justice–oriented social work practice.

• United States National Association of Social Workers. 1999. Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.

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  The professional code of ethics lists social justice as one of six core values of social workers and describes an ethical principle for enacting this core value.