Narrating Social Work Through Autoethnography - by Stanley Witkin (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Autoethnography is an innovative approach to inquiry located in the interstices between science and literature. Blending researcher and subject roles, autoethnographers use analytical strategies to explore the social and cultural contexts of meaningful life experiences and their implications for the present. Social issues are described from the inside out, producing narratives that reflect the messy, experiential encounters of everyday life. This collection illustrates the value of autoethnography as an inquiry approach for social work practice. Covering such topics as international adoption, cross-dressing, divorce, cultural competence, life-threatening illness, and transformative change, contributors showcase the ambiguities, doubts, contradictions, insights, tensions, and epiphanies that accompany their experiences. This anthology provides a readable and unique example of an exciting new trend in qualitative research.

Review Quotes

An incredibly engaging, well-written, and unique reading experience.-- "CHOICE"

Not only does this book have a set of fascinating well-referenced stories that show life as social and the social as central to life, it is also a unique, emotive, social work text which... is so engaging as to be hard to ignore...-- "Journal of Social Work"

This is a unique collection of personal stories written by social workers there are many pearls of wisdom to be gained from these heartfelt narratives that may help you not only become a better therapist but also better understand parts of your own history.-- "Social Work Career Development"

A fascinating, unique, and often moving book. It explores the huge potential that 'autoethnography' has for expanding our understanding of both ourselves and social work and has clear practical implications.--Nigel Parton, University of Huddersfield

The stories in the book made me laugh, cry, and most of all think about the taken-for-granted, something we absolutely want our social work students to be able to do well and confidently. It is a brave and courageous work that must be made public.--Sally St. George, University of Calgary

This book is useful for all levels of practice and education, from undergraduate to graduate courses, because it links circumstances of daily living with social work issues. It will also be of interest to social work professionals, to other helping or care professions, and to a broad public. It is a moving book. It makes life appear as social and the social as a strong fiber of life.--Adrienne Chambon, University of Toronto

About the Author

Stanley L Witkin is a professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Vermont and president of the Global Partnership for Transformative Social Work. He is the former editor-in-chief of Social Work and a Fulbright scholar. He is the author of Social Construction and Social Work Practice (CUP 2011) and Narrating Social Work Through Autoethnography (CUP 2014).