Values Underlying Theory and the NASW Code of Ethics
Feminist theory promotes gender equality, opposes systemic discrimination, and focuses on the lived experiences of marginalized individuals. Feminist theory focuses on empowerment, collaboration, and decentralizing hierarchy in client-practitioner relationships (Franklin & Jordan, 2024). It focuses much on critical thinking and positions the personal as political with a focus on individual and social change. It aims for all people, in particular women and minorities, to have their voices heard, be recognized, and respected: Values Underlying Theory and the NASW Code of Ethics.
Feminist theory aligns closely with the preamble of NASW in prioritizing social justice and liberation of oppressed people and considering systemic injustice. Both value social justice, individual dignity and worth, and human relationships in human and social well-being. Feminist practice also supports direct action and advocacy reflecting the social work profession’s mission to confront inequality and enhance human potential (Kuokkanen, 2025).
During my internship, I supported a client who was a 17-year-old Latina female with depression due to persistent gender and racial discrimination in school. She struggled with low self-esteem, poor grades, and social isolation. Using a feminist framework, I validated her reality and collaboratively worked with her to reinforce her confidence and self-advocacy. With this intervention, she began viewing her issues as socially caused rather than personal failures.
One of the relevant ethical standards of the NASW Code of Ethics is Standard 1.05: Cultural Awareness and Social Diversity (National Association of Social Workers, n.d.). The standard requires social work practitioners to have an understanding of the character of social diversity and oppression. In my client’s case, being sensitive to her experience of gender and racial discrimination adhered to this standard in fostering culturally competent and inclusive care.
Standard 1.05 supports feminist theory in that it encourages equality, empowerment, and challenging systemic discrimination. My work with the client involved affirming her experiences and urging her to challenge school discrimination. The theory supports ethical social work that advocates for the voices of the oppressed and social change through client advocacy.
References
Franklin, C., & Jordan, C. (2024). Turner’s social work treatment (7th ed.). Oxford University Press Academic. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780197678046
Kuokkanen, R. (2025). It’s about all relations: Indigenous feminist theory of relational freedom. Review of International Studies, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0260210525100879
National Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). Highlighted revisions to the code of ethics. NASW. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Highlighted-Revisions-to-the-Code-of-Ethics
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Question
- Turner’s Social Work Treatment
- Chapter 9, “Strengths Perspective” (pp. H78–H87)
- Chapter 8, “Client-Centered Theory and Humanistic Theories” (pp. H128–H138)
- Chapter 14, “Fourth-Wave Feminist Social Work” (pp. H128–H138)
In this Discussion, you align ethics and theory in relation to practice.*To Prepare
- Review the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics listed in the Learning Resources.
- Review the core values (found in the preamble) more broadly, and then focus on specific ethical standards.
- Identify specific standards for your post.
- If you don’t have field experience that applies to this Discussion, you can apply other social work experience, including internships or professional experience, or apply a case study from this course.
Values Underlying Theory and the NASW Code of Ethics
QUESTION:
Post a response to the following:
- *Select feminist theory or empowerment theory. Summarize the underlying principles and values of the theory in 3–4 brief sentences.
- *Analyze the extent to which the underlying principles and core values of the theory, as found in the preamble, are consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics in 3–4 brief sentences.
- *Briefly describe a client from your fieldwork or other professional experience and their presenting problem in 2–3 sentences using the theory you selected.
- *Identify one ethical standard from the NASW Code of Ethics that would apply to the client you described. Be sure to identify the numerical standard from the code of ethics to which you are referring.
- *Explain how the theory is consistent with the work you did with the client and the ethical standard.

