ISRAELI SOCIAL WORKERS AND SEX ROLES: A STUDY ON VALUES AND ATTITUDES TOWARD SEX ROLES AND THEIR IMPACT UPON PRACTICE

Abstract

This study was undertaken to examine the values and attitudes of Israeli social workers regarding sex roles and the extent to which such values influence practice.;This research project, conducted on over a hundred Israeli social workers practicing in family counselling agencies, investigated the following four interconnected elements: (1) the personal values and attitudes of practitioners toward men and women; (2) the influence of certain background variables upon these social workers; (3) the social workers' self-evaluation and self-awareness of sex role issues; and (4) the effect of these values and attitudes upon practice. The final instrument consisted of four sections: (1) demographic data, (2) value and attitude questions which generated a "contemporary/traditional" continuum, (3) self-evaluation questions, and (4) case vignettes and practice questions.;The findings indicated that those social workers surveyed expressed a "contemporary/progressive" approach (as defined by current feminist literature) in their attitudes toward sex roles. This was an unexpected finding. The workers responses were especially influenced by age and gender--the males and the older (over 40) respondents scored more "traditional" in their approaches to sex roles. The findings also demonstrated a strong correlation between attitudinal responses and workers' self-evaluation of their approach to these issues. Personal values, whether "contemporary" or "traditional" reflecting sex role biases, did emerge and influence the direction and outcome of practice. Critical self-examination by practitioners in connection with sex role issues appears necessary and long overdue.