Emerging ethical voices in social work

Abstract

This chapter aims to: (1) define the nature of culture, (2) identify the characteristics of East Asian societies with a Confucian heritage, (3) compare these with Western ethics and culture and (4) examine the impact of culture on social work practice in East Asia. As this is an ambitious attempt, the chapter focuses on how ethical development influences social work practice in specific cultural contexts. With these constraints and limitations, the authors thus highlight how Eastern culture differs from its Western counterparts. In addition, the authors illustrate the differences between Western culture and Confucian heritage. In conclusion, the authors explain why incompatibilities arise when social workers transplant Western social work practice into East Asian societies, and explore and explain how this emerging ethical voice is shaping social work practice.