Men in social work: The career path, opportunities and challenges.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions regarding the changing trend in career path for men in social work. Specifically, from the perspective of male social workers, this study explored the following research questions: (1) What factors led the male social workers to choose the social work profession? (2) What has been their career path in the social work field? (3) What has been their experience working in a female-dominated profession?;Respondents reported they found their educational experiences to be generally positive; however, they were treated differently than females in their internships and in the workplace. Some of these differences were perceived as challenges (e.g., expected to perform physical labor), but others were seen as benefits (e.g., quicker career advancement than female colleagues). While the men reported that they had encountered some challenges, they also reported a high level of satisfaction with their decisions to become social workers.