Gender Equality in Social Assistance?
We analize transforming norms and practices at a client, frontline, organizational and policy level in different regions of Switzerland.
Factsheet
- Lead school Business School
- Institute Institute for New Work
- Funding organisation SNSF
- Duration (planned) 01.09.2024 - 31.08.2028
- Project management Prof. Dr. Lucia Lanfranconi
- Head of project Prof. Dr. Lucia Lanfranconi
- Project staff Prof. Dr. Lucia Lanfranconi
- Keywords Social Assistance, Gender, Equality, Regions, Norms & Practices
Situation
This project aims to contribute the understanding of how transforming gender equality norms and practice in social assistance are implemented differently in various regions. The topic is highly relevant, as these changing norms are shaping client’s lives, trajectories and opportunities to leave assistance. The project contributes to the two global goals of combating poverty (SDG 1) and achieving gender equality (SDG 5).
Course of action
The research focuses on two Swiss cantons, which differ in their implementation of social assistance and gender culture. In each canton, an urban and a rural social service will be examined with the methodical approach of data triangulation at three levels: (1) analysis of social assistants’ practices and the experience of client’s through observations and interviews (Micro level); (2) analysis of social services norms and practices, across statistical and discourse analysis of organizational documents, focus group, and observations (Meso level); (3) discourse analysis of focus groups, documents and legal texts since the beginning of the 21st century at the municipal, cantonal and supra-cantonal levels (Macro level). For each of these levels, we will analyze the norms and practices of social assistance around four dimensions: access and intake, material support, personal support and sanctions.
Looking ahead
We aim to identify mechanisms, factors and practices at all levels that promote gender equality from an intersectional perspective, as well as those that hinder it. The findings will be reflected upon with the various stakeholders, including clients, to develop target-group specific recommendations, summarized in fact sheets for Swiss Conference on Social Assistance and Conference of the Cantonal Directors of Social Affairs, cantons and communes, social services and frontline-workers, schools of social work, etc.
