Fish In or Out of Water? A Bourdieusian Analysis of the Social Work Professional Identity

Abstract

This thesis uses empirical data to explore the social work professional identity in Scotland. The research was conducted through narrative, life story interviews of 19self-selecting social workers throughout Scotland between September 2016 and September 2017 and analysed using Bourdieu’s (1977) theory of practice framework to capture the individual and social dimensions of participants’ experience. Participants’ narratives provide valuable insights into how their professional identity is constructed from what Bourdieu might term their habitus and field, and how their identity in turn shapes the field.

Findings reveal that social workers come from a very diverse range of backgrounds and are motivated to become social workers by their own socialisation and education. They are deeply affected by how others perceive them, and their perception of a poor public image and lack of professional representation. They reveal a gulf between their expectations of the role and the actual role. They are acutely aware of what Bourdieu would call doxa, those deeply internalised presuppositions that 'go without saying' but shape the field of social work. Participants can describe the impact of these on the identity of the profession, without necessarily being able to name them. They are motivated to “help”, “support” and “care”, and want to spend more time directly working with people than on administrative tasks. They feel constrained by boundaries imposed through regulation and legislation yet almost all have a story to tell of where boundaries were crossed in order to practise ethically or humanely. They struggle with the interstitial and boundary-spanning nature of social work and being “jack of all trades”. They view their professional identity as a matter of concern, particularly in the current climate of multidisciplinary integrated services. Despite this, all would do it again and most have found a way to practise that is consistent with their values.

This thesis provides a fresh offering in combining narrative methodology and a Bourdieusian analysis to explore social work’s professional identity. It has implications for social work practice, policy, education and research.

Date of Award	2018
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Glasgow Caledonian University
Supervisor	Martin Kettle (Supervisor)