The Unheard Gender: The Neglect of Men as Social Work Clients

Abstract

This critical review shows that, despite increasing attention to fathers in social work practice and research, men are still largely the ‘unheard gender’. Almost all the social work literature that deals with men discusses them as fathers, namely in terms of their function in the family. Very little of it looks at men in other roles or situations or concerns itself with men's experiences, feelings or needs. Similar neglect of men characterises social work practice and training. The review points to a vicious circle in which the neglect of men in research, practice and training reinforce one another. It offers explanations for the neglect and suggestions for how to better include men as social work clients.

Apprivoiser les pères en protection de l’enfance

“…Par exemple, les professionnelles sont plus familières avec les manifestations de détresse féminine mais doivent être conscientes que les hommes peuvent vivre aussi leur détresse, même si c'est différemment. Les recherches démontrent que lorsque les intervenantes travaillent avec les hommes, elles ont de la difficulté à fournir le même degré de soutien émotionnel que celui qu'elles donneraient aux femmes (Baum, 2015b), voire elles minimisent ou ignorent la détresse des hommes. Notamment, certains hommes peuvent avoir tendance à « agir » leurs émotions par manque de symbolisation plutôt que de les exprimer verbalement.…”

Working with Men: A Gender-Sensitive Practice Model

“…One of the more frequent portrayals of men in research of the family is that of "victimizer." This type of research examines situations in which men are perpetrators of incest and physical and emotional abuse (e.g., Baum, 2016;Fong & Walsh-Bowers, 1998;Veach, 1997). This is not to say that these events do not occur, nor that they should not be researched.…”

Fathering interventions for men who use intimate partner violence and child maltreatment: Perceived benefits and risks

“…An example of a problematic practice that leads to disjointed collaboration between CPS and victim advocates and negatively impacts researcher's ability to understand violent men as fathers is the CPS's historical commitment to protect children through contact with the most "influential" parent (Moles, 2008). As a result, even in homes where men are the primary concern for children's well being, CPS records are usually opened in the female partner's name and may have relatively little information on father's (Baum, 2015;Moles, 2008;Shepard & Farrell, 2014). This over reliance of contact with female care givers has led to many women further victimized by having their children removed from their care by CPS for failing to protect them from the male partner's violence (Kohl, Edleson, et al, 2005;Moles, 2008;Rivett & Kelly, 2006;Shepard & Farrell, 2014).…”

“…Another consequence of CPS interacting mostly with women is that they are likely overrepresented as CM offenders , resulting in interventions for CM being designed primarily for women (Baum, 2015;Featherstone & Peckover, 2007;Scott & Crooks, 2004). Child maltreatment is defined by the Center for Disease Control and Injury Prevention as "any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver (e.g., clergy, coach, teacher) that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child" (Leeb, 2008).…”