ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at relational ethics and how they support a youth work practice based on accountability to, and justice for, young people. The less-than-warm feelings many youth workers have about ethics likely come from the way ethics have become disembodied from the whole of youth work practice. Historically, youth work has been conceptualized as requiring the voluntary participation of young people. However, more and more in North America, youth work now occurs within the contexts of social services and the juvenile justice system. Many of these youth workers are employed by the social service industry, and arguing about whether the work they do constitutes “real” youth work is not useful. Being transparent about unjust circumstances by naming and acknowledging them is one important practice of relationally ethical youth work.
