Harmful gender stereotypes are continuing to impact career choices for young people and men in the England, new research shows.
A study by social work charity Frontline that surveyed more than 2,000 men aged under 30 revealed that more than four in ten (43%) young men aged 18-30 still believe some jobs are better suited to men and others to women, despite over half (57%) stating gender shouldn’t impact career choice.
It found that gender norms are deterring men in that age bracket from social worker roles, as over a third (34%) say social work is a profession best suited to women, with nearly four in 10 (38%) admitting the thought of going against masculine norms would discourage them from applying.
Currently only 14% of child and family social workers are men and according to the research, just one in six (16%) young men would consider social work as a career, compared to nearly a third (30%) of women.
When it comes to choosing a career path, men are continuing to choose careers typically perceived as masculine in sectors such as science, engineering and technology (21%).
Frontline, which trains new and existing social workers, has launched a new campaign backed and voiced by Stephen Manderson - better known as rapper Professor Green - to encourage young people from all walks of life and backgrounds to consider a career in social work.
The charity is on a mission to help diversify the sector not just by tackling the gender stigma, but by creating a new generation of social workers of all ages and ethnicities, who better represent the communities they work with and bring about substantial social change for children who do not have a safe or stable home.
Raised by his grandmother and great-grandmother in a council flat on the Northwold Estate in Clapton, social work is an important cause to the artist whose own childhood was shaped by the support of social workers.
Lisa Hackett, Frontline’s Chief Social Worker commented: "Being a social worker requires exceptionally high levels of skill and knowledge and we are proud of all those social workers who are there for children and families every day. But to ensure the best possible outcomes for these children and families, we need a social work workforce which represents them.
"Half the population is male, and yet there are so few men in social work, which is why we're encouraging more to come forward.
"Similarly, we must improve ethnic diversity across the sector so we can support, champion and create change in the social work system for children and families of all backgrounds. That’s why we’re calling on more men – as well as more women - to consider a career in social work."
Every year, more than 700,000 children rely on the support of a social worker. The campaign video, ‘This is the Work’, demonstrates the everyday efforts by social workers that often go unseen and unheard but make a real difference to the lives of children across the country.
Despite gender stereotypes preventing men from considering social work as a profession, the charity’s research found the majority of young men (70%) want a career that helps improve the lives of disadvantaged children and families, and nearly two thirds (60%) of men and women agree that diversifying the social work sector could improve the services they provide.
Nearly seven in 10 (69%) young men will be looking for a new role in 2022, and Frontline is encouraging anyone looking for a new career to break the gender stigma and consider social work, to help diversify the sector so social workers can better represent the children and families they serve.
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