Is Gender Inequality in Social Work Management Relevant to Social Work Students?

Abstract

This paper reports on a study carried out in 1991 based on questionnaires which asked 169 female and male social work students about their aspirations and expectations in respect of promotion in their future career. Underlying the study is a concern about the unequal representation of male and female workers at management levels in social services in the UK, there being at present a predominance of male managers. The phenomenon is not regarded as unique to social services, but as part of the pattern of gender inequality in the workforce as a whole. The view that women contribute to the phenomenon by a fundamental lack of interest in, or unwillingness to apply for, promotion will be challenged. It will be argued that the differences in the aspirations and expectations of male and female employees, which previous research studies have reported, may be an effect of the experience of the organization rather than a cause of the scarcity of female employees in promoted posts. The paper will focus on some of the findings, including students' aspirations and expectations, their opinions about the unequal representation of men and women in social work management, the implications of this for their own career and whether they consider this issue is, or should be, a significant component of social work training.