Gender differences in social workers’ assessments and help-giving strategies towards single parents

The study investigates Swedish male and female social workers’ assessments and help-giving strategies towards single parents applying for income support. The study was carried out with the help of a vignette distributed as a mail questionnaire. Results show that social workers tend to conform to assessments and help-giving strategies that are consistent with expectations linked to their own gender role.     

Differences in the Seriousness of Problems and Deservingness of Help: Swedish Social Workers' Assessments of Single Mothers and Fathers

In this vignette study, three hypotheses concerning differencesin social workers’ assessment off single fathers and mothersare tested: first, that single fathers with custody of theirchildren, who have problems similar to those often faced bysingle mothers, are assessed as having more serious problemsthan the mothers; secondly, that single fathers in such a situationtend to be assessed as being less deserving of support thansingle mothers in the same situation; thirdly, that the helpoffered to both sexes follows gender-traditional patterns. Theresults support the hypotheses. The overall problems and mentalhealth tended to be assessed as more serious in the case ofthe father than in the case of the mother. The single fatherwas assessed as being more responsible for his situation. Thesingle mother was assessed as being in need of assistance inmore areas and more varied social welfare measures were recommendedfor her than for the father. Finally, the results also showthat only support which could enable the client to obtain paidwork and be able to pay off the debts on his car was given higherpriority in the case of the father.     

Paid work,education and competence. Social workers’ interviews with male and female clients applying for income support

This article contributes to the understanding of how talk in social work constructs the positions of men and women in the gender system. The method consists of discourse analysis of Swedish social workers’ interviews with male and female clients. Results show that women are given relatively little support in finding a job. Much more attention is devoted to the men as a group and their opportunities to become established in the labour market.

Artikeln behandlar hur samtal i socialt arbete bidrar till att konstruera mäns och kvinnors positioner i genussystemet. Samtalsanalys har använts för att studera svenska socialarbetares samtal med manliga och kvinnliga klienter. Resultaten visar att kvinnorna ges relativt lite stöd för att få arbete. Mycket mer uppmärksamhet ägnas männen och deras möjlighet att etablera sig på arbetsmarknaden.     

Public service budget constraints: the perspective of rural officials in the U.S.A.

Eight counties in the State of Washington served as the focus for a study of issues associated with budget cutbacks. Secondary data were collected from published sources. A mail survey in 1984 of elected and appointed officials provided primary data. The secondary data enabled us to trace changes in expenditure patterns for specific services from 1979 to 1983.Judicial, law enforcement, correctional units and general government received consistent increases, in part because of state mandates. Environmental protection, planning, community development, parks and recreation tended to be cut rather consistently. Social and health services, physical services (roads, bridges, etc.), and education remained relatively stable in most counties.Public officials consider state requirements for improvement in correctional and law enforcement services as the major factor in setting budget priorities. Cutbacks in federal and state funds for environmental protection are part of the basis for county cutbacks, but local priorities appear to support such actions. Despite budget decreases in some service categories, public officials felt that little had been lost in service quality or quantity, although maintenance of plant, equipment, and capital outlays were thought to have suffered rather seriously.     

Implications of Male and Female Same-Gender Dyads

ABSTRACT

A sample of 222 Swedish social services officers were surveyed in regard to their opinions on a fictitious case addressing the needs of a same-gender client. The 49-question survey was statistically analyzed through a comparison of female and male same-gender dyads. The findings suggest that gender is an important factor in assessment, and this seems to be influenced by the gender of the client, the gender of the assessor, and how the problem area or situation of the client is “gendered.” Also, same-gender dyads tend to strengthen stereotypical expectations of men and women as clients and influence what forms of assistance are offered to the client. The male same-gender dyad tends to reduce the likelihood of assistance being offered, while the female same-gender dyad increased it. These results suggest that assessments are based upon stereotypical beliefs about men and women rather than being focused directly on individual differences and needs. Further research is recommended that incorporates a number of more refined “gendered” problem areas and situations and how these assessments can affect social work practice.