ABSTRACT
Narrative ethics (NE) is an approach to dealing with ethical concerns by listening, interpreting, and responding to stories told by clients, coworkers, or others affected by the situation. NE fits well with key social work perspectives: respect for the dignity and uniqueness of all people, starting with the client, and cultural humility. Narratives help social workers pursue social justice. In fact, one of the grand narratives of social work is fighting injustice, inequality, and oppression. NE draws from the elements of storytelling literature, including voice, perspective, audiences, plot, character, conflict, and resolution. The primary difference between NE, legalism, deontology, and teleology is that NE embraces subjectivism, immersing oneself in the situation to reflect on the lived experiences and stories of people affected by the ethical issue. When social workers encounter ethical issues, they may want clear directions on how to respond. Having clear agency policies, regulatory laws, and ethical codes may provide those directions.
