Social Justice and Social Work

Abstract

Social work has long been associated with social justice. In this chapter we explore the relationship between the two with a view to clarifying the importance of social justice as part of the social work value base. We achieve this by first reviewing the place of social justice in codes of ethics and other such value statements before considering the contested status of social justice as a theoretical concept. This is followed by an exploration of the part a commitment to social justice has played in the development of the welfare state. Next comes an examination of the role of social movements in promoting social justice. This leads into a discussion of the significance of power and empowerment as key concepts that can be used to make connections between social justice at a philosophical level and its role as a guide to ethical, effective and safe practice. This sets the scene for a discussion of the potential use of PCS analysis as an analytical tool for making sense of the discrimination and oppression that stand in the way of social justice and, indeed, for making sense of social justice itself. Finally, the importance of a critically reflective approach to practice is highlighted. Without critically reflective practice there is a danger that a commitment to social justice remains at a rhetorical level and is not reflected in actual practice, making such practice not only hypocritical, but also potentially dangerous.