Work and Social Support: Social Workers’ Assessments of Male and Female Clients’ Problems and Needs

Abstract

This study investigated how social workers assess single mothers' and fathers' needs in the areas of paid work and social support. It found that social workers conform to gender "heteronormative" expectations. A father's problems are assessed as being more closely linked to paid work than are a mother's, whereas a mother's problems are assessed as being related to difficulties in the area of social networks.The ways in which social welfare policy emphasizes the opportunities for men and women to share the responsibility for paid work and family life are crucial to how power is distributed between men and women in a welfare state (Bryson, 1992). One of the mainstays of social welfare policy in the Nordic welfare states, as well as in the other Western European countries, is to make it possible for both men and women to balance paid work with family and caregiving (cf. Sainsbury, 1999;Skevik, 2001). It is assumed that men's greater participation in matters involving the family can enable women to achieve the power and influence that result from a strong position in the labor market. In recent decades, several significant political initiatives have been implemented in Sweden with the aim of strengthening the position of women in the labor market and persuading men to take more active responsibility for the home and child care. Consequently, it is important to investigate how the welfare state's professions deal with these two areas.Research has shown that social workers' assessments are not always in line with the intentions of policy makers (see, e.g.. That is, the relative autonomy of the welfare state's professions vis-à-vis social policies may lead, in many cases, to the reproduction, rather than the solution, of the social problems of men and women, as has been found in research on the implementation of the goals of men's active participation in the care of

Recognition and gendered identity constructions in labour activation

“…These examples may exemplify the male breadwinner identity as one expecting and aiming at hard outcomes (paid work), valuing a concrete task-oriented approach, versus the image of a female identity as one expecting and aiming at intermediate outcomes (soft skills and strengthened self-efficacy), and therefore to a higher degree values a softer approach (care and relational work). Further, this may support previous research indicating that social workers might be approaching male and female participants differently (Kullberg, 2004(Kullberg, , 2005Nybom 2013;Tabin & Perriard, 2016).…”

“…Thus, service users in activation are heterogeneous with extensive, complex problems that require close, comprehensive follow-up. Therefore, social workers 1 play an important role in activation programmes, and gendered views on work, employment and family care may influence their approaches (Baum, 2016;Betzelt, 2008;Djuve, 2008;Kullberg, 2004Kullberg, , 2005Nybom 2013;Tabin & Perriard, 2016; see also Djuve, Kavli, & Hagelund, 2011). Service users' expectations for the programme may also play a role.…”

Neformalna i formalna podrška jednoroditeljskim i dvoroditeljskim obiteljima

“…Vezano uz pružanje formalne podrške, zanimljiva su istraživanja koja ukazuju na diskriminiranje korisnika i ženskog i muškog spola, svake grupe na drugačiji način, zbog tradicionalnih spolnih stereotipa socijalnih radnika (Kullberg, 2002.). Tako je, primjerice, utvrđeno da socijalni radnici različito procjenjuju probleme i potrebe samohranih roditelja u identičnoj situaciji ovisno o tome radi li se o majci ili o ocu (Kullberg, 2004.). Navedeno upućuje na relevantnost uključivanja varijable spola primatelja u razmatranje društvene podrške roditeljima.…”

Intersectional patterns of social assistance eligibility in Sweden

“…In a number of vignette studies, social workers' understanding of single parents' problems and needs have been shown to favour a gender-stereotype breadwinner model (see, e.g. Kullberg and Fäldt 2008;Kullberg 2004Kullberg , 2005. While the PSS professionals seem more intent on encouraging single fathers to seek jobs, they tend to emphasize single mothers' parenting roles and social relations (Kullberg 2004(Kullberg , 2005.…”

“…Kullberg and Fäldt 2008;Kullberg 2004Kullberg , 2005. While the PSS professionals seem more intent on encouraging single fathers to seek jobs, they tend to emphasize single mothers' parenting roles and social relations (Kullberg 2004(Kullberg , 2005. Single mothers are more likely to be granted support compared with the fathers (Kullberg 2005).…”