Masculinities and Caring Men in Social Care Work

This chapter takes account of the significance of gender in professional social care work and how it shapes the roles that men and women perform in practice. It describes how the socialization of gender influences the self-concept of individuals and how this in turn can constrain men in partaking in the feminized work of social care. The expectations of hegemonic masculinity is significant in creating tensions for men in doing care work. However, the chapter also describes how men too can hold a caring identity which can mediate these tension and can lead to more fulfilling and satisfying careers for men who want to practice social care.