Social workers' socio-occupational insertion in Chile's Ministry of Housing and Urbanism

Abstract

Introduction. The present study focused on the socio-occupational insertion of social workers in Chile's Ministry of Housing and Urbanism (MINVU). The exploratory results of the analysis contribute to the debate on the place of social work inside the MINVU and the functions of social work in this intervention area. Based on a historic-critical social work approach, the theoretical debate can be linked to the ethical-political dimension of the profession. The profession can also be understood to mediate social class interests and struggles, and that social workers are equally working class. In addition, from a critical spatial perspective, space was understood not merely from a physical viewpoint but also as a product of social struggles. We addressed the following research questions: What are the objective labour conditions of MINVU social workers? And how is the social worker's position considered inside the MINVU in terms of role legitimation, challenges, as well as the scope and limits of their professional action? Methodology. A mixed methods study was conducted, differentiating the objects of quantitative analysis (objective aspects) and qualitative analysis (subjective aspects). In the quantitative analysis, a descriptive analysis was conducted based on an official state database on the number of employees at the MINVU (N=5.569) and labour conditions. The qualitative analysis centred on ten semi-structured interviews with social workers who had working experience within the MINVU. Results. Regarding material socio-occupational insertion conditions, social workers represented 11% of the MINVU labour force, i.e., more than other social science professions. Nevertheless, social workers had a lower average salary and were less represented in management positions. Their functions were related to informal settlements, neighbourhoods, urban development, and housing, as well as establishing bridges between engineering and architecture and the users' communities. The qualitative analysis showed a gradual profession insertion and legitimation process within the MINVU, affected by a gendered institutional structure and gender prejudices. Interdisciplinary dialogues were growing, especially with architects. However, undergraduate education on spatial issues among the professionals was scarce or inexistent. For this reason, the theory was not valued by practitioners, though the latter did recognise the need for methodological innovation. Discussion. Understanding individual trajectories was found to be a relevant means of expression of collective professional trajectories. In the present case, such trajectories were affected by gender inequalities and prejudices. Moreover, several opportunities for critical interventions were detected. Conclusions. Social work practitioners and scholars are facing a number of theoretical, methodological, and political challenges. It is necessary to acknowledge the new academic field of social intervention spatiality and territorial social work as a professional speciality. In this way, adopting a historic-critical perspective in social work would contribute to socio-spatial transformation processes.