The Relevance of Narratives in Future Social Work?

Abstract

So what lies in store for social work in the next 25 years? The irradiation of inequality in many spheres of society continues to rest at the centre of the social work mission for social justice. This is a never-ending battle. Yet, each year, a new cadre of social work students, practitioners and educators are motivated to engage in the struggle. Stories of how individuals self-motivate and go about their work are needed to sustain inspiration for the rest of us. Narratives, such as the ones in this book, are meant to create points of contact between the individual’s sense of self, the authors and with the profession’s broader mission. In between these levels, it is possible to experience many emotions and have many thoughts, but the umbilical cord holds steady, the professional identity is present and the purpose is clear.