Men in social work : analysis of selected issues

Streszcz. pol., ang. Bibliogr. s. 122-124

The share of men among Polish social workers is very low - it can be talked about the high feminization rate of this profession. A similar underrepresentation of men is observed among the students of social work in Poland. This tendency was also present at lower levels of social work education in the past, in the times of so-called "state socialism" but also after the 1989. The comparison of the proportion of male social workers in Poland with other countries (Germany, England, Ireland, USA) shows a significant difference, as in these countries, men’s employment share in social welfare agencies is about one-fifth. On the contrary, among certain categories of social assistance recipients men account for the vast majority. Hence, the paper postulates "male social work" and the search for ways to increase male participation in the professional delivery of social assistance.