An Ethic of Care: Contributions to Social Work Practice

Abstract

The definition of the term philosophy is ‘love of wisdom’. From the earliest of times, in all cultures and traditions, the search for meaning and knowledge has been accompanied by a passing on through generations of ways that meaning can be made and connections drawn or discarded. The oral histories steeped in ancient ancestry of Indigenous peoples, and the written tomes that have influenced many a religious, spiritual, and belief system, all have their place in establishing a moral philosophy and body of ethical theory that provides rich fodder for those who seek explanations and answers to the compelling questions of life. This chapter focuses on tracing the history, defining and understanding the central tenets of what has become known as an Ethic of Care. This relational ethical theory had its roots in feminist thinking in the mid-twentieth century providing a critical understanding of the importance of interdependence and relationship while maintaining focus on the situational, structural, and political factors of importance to the individual. While ethics of justice highlight obligations, rights, and fairness, an Ethic of Care focuses on reciprocity, relationships, connections, and context. This chapter positions an Ethic of Care as a central ethical theory for social work practice and provides examples of how questions about what a compassionate response requires can shift what ought to be done from a focus on rational-objective to the relational-emotional dimension. In doing so, social workers have a foundation for decision-making that holds them on firm footing when exploring moral obligations, deservedness, and the expectations about how social relations play out on all levels. A critical Ethic of Care will also be explored as a more recent development of this perspective that provides further application to the socio-political context of human relationships. The chapter concludes with two case studies of how an Ethic of Care approach can be applied in social work-related contexts, drawing on recent research and global events.