Symbolic pracitces and social identity of social workers

The paper covers the issue of social workers’ social identity taken in theoretical framework of symbolic boundaries by Michèle Lamont and internal‑external dialectics of identity by Richard Jenkins. The discussed research concentrated on symbolic practices of social workers in relation towards clients and office workers. Both identified categories sustain the distinction between pure/ impure, however differences can be noticed in case of boundary settings and boundary work. Analysis of external image experienced by social workers and the contrasted self‑image connected with social workers/office workers boundary allows for cautious conclusions about prospects of social work professionalization.

The paper covers the issue of social workers’ social identity taken in theoretical framework of symbolic boundaries by Michèle Lamont and internal‑external dialectics of identity by Richard Jenkins. The discussed research concentrated on symbolic practices of social workers in relation towards clients and office workers. Both identified categories sustain the distinction between pure/ impure, however differences can be noticed in case of boundary settings and boundary work. Analysis of external image experienced by social workers and the contrasted self‑image connected with social workers/office workers boundary allows for cautious conclusions about prospects of social work professionalization.