Suchergebnisse

This article explores the ways in which age and gender intersect to shape the workplace experiences of first-year Canadian social workers. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with nine early-career (0.6–3.7 years post-bachelor of social work [BSW]), young adult (aged 23.9–32.9) social workers in Alberta, Canada, to understand their experiences in the first year of practice after completing the BSW; this article addresses the themes relating to age and gender. The methodology used in the study was hermeneutic phenomenology. Findings include negative conceptualizations of young social workers, meanings related to age and gender, use of evocative language to communicate positionality and practice values ("little girls" and "bitching up"), and feminized constructions of social work. Implications for social work education, practice, and research are discussed.