Gender role models...who needs 'em?!

Hicks, S 2008, 'Gender role models...who needs 'em?!' , Qualitative Social Work, 7 (1) , pp. 43-59.

PDF Restricted to Repository staff only Download (150kB)

Abstract

This article examines the use of socialization theory in social workers’ considerations of child development. The author analyses assessments of lesbians and gay men who applied to foster or adopt children, in order to demonstrate social workers’ reliance upon ‘gender role models’. Drawing upon feminist work, the article goes on to critique socialization theory, before outlining versions of ‘gender’ found in discourse theory and ethnomethodology. Using these methodologies, the author proposes that gender role theory does not describe a child development ‘need’, but rather constructs a particular account that is limited and conservative. The article considers the implications of this reliance upon socialization theory for lesbian and gay foster care and adoption, and instead proposes that social work should develop less restrictive accounts of gender and sexuality.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ1101 Women. Feminism Subjects / Themes > H Social Sciences > HM Sociology Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > School of Health and Society > Centre for Applied Research in Health, Welfare and Policy
Journal or Publication Title:	Qualitative Social Work
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	1473-3250
Depositing User:	Dr Stephen Hicks
Date Deposited:	03 Nov 2009 10:31
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2022 08:37
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/2338

Actions (login required)

Edit record (repository staff only)