ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a theoretical map of narrative approaches by drawing on critical theories. Critical social work practice is influenced by a wide range of critical perspectives including feminism, racism, anti-oppressive practice and post-structuralism (Ferguson, 2003; see Chapter 29). According to Ferguson (2003), this influenced a form of practice that seeks to reconstruct the idealized theoretical notions that are available in social work. In other words, it is a branch of theories that seeks to challenge oppressive practices that consist of a variety of fixed ideas of individuals’ problems. This chapter frames narrative theories as a form of ‘language critique’ for practice by drawing on a range of critical social theories in the endeavour to understand how identity is constructed in and through language.
