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Occupational Ideologies and Professionalization in Social Work. Reba Muriel Bucklew Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

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Occupational Ideologies and Professionalization in Social Work. Reba Muriel Bucklew Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1959 Occupational Ideologies and Professionalization in Social Work. Reba Muriel Bucklew Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Bucklew, Reba Muriel, "Occupational Ideologies and Professionalization in Social Work." (1959). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 550. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/550 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. OCCUPATIONAL, IDEOLOGIES AND PROFESSIONALIZATION IN SOCIAL WORK A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Sociology by Reba Muriel Bucklew B .A . , Texas State College for Women, 1943 M .A ., Texas State College for Women, 1946 M.S.W* , George Warren Brown School of Social W ork, Washington U niversity, 1950 August, 1959 ACKNOWLEDGEMEN TS The writer is grateful to many individuals and several groups for helping to make this study possible and wishes to make the following acknowledgements. Dr, Vernon J. Parenton, as major professor, gave inspiration, guidance, and encouragement in the direction of the project, and his instruction has greatly expanded the writer's knowledge of general sociology and theory. Recognition goes to Dr. Roland J, Pellegrin for his interest in the subject and for orientation to the study of the sociology of occupations. An expression of gratitude goes to Dr. Earl E. Klein who served as the minor professor. Acknowledgement goes to the entire faculty of ti e L.S. U. Sociology Department for their contribu­ tions to an advanced program of learning. An expression of thanks goes to Dr. Ethelyn Davis who assisted in the proof reading and other minor details. Finally, gratitude is extended to the members of the Dallas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and the staff members of the Dallas Regional Office of the State Department of Public Welfare for their participation in the study. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER Pa8e ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES...................................................................... vii ABSTRACT................................................................................... x Part I: Introduction I. PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND METHOD OF STUDY ... 1 Statement of the Problem ................................................ I Purpose of the Study ......................... 4 Concepts Employed............................................................. 7 Limitations of Study ......................................................... 12 Source of Data and Methodology ................................ 14 II. THE NATURE OF THE PROFESSIONS........................... 25 Introduction ............................................................................. 25 The Emergence of the Professions ......... 30 Profession: The Problem of Definition ................ 38 The Characteristics of the Professions ................ 45 S u m m a r y ................................................................................ 51 III. THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF SOCIAL WORK ... 52 Social Work Terminology and Definitions ............. 54 Methods in Social Work ................................................... 67 Social Work and C u ltu r e ...................... 73 Interpretation of Social Work ................................... 75 iii CHAPTER Page S u m m a ry ...................................... ............................................ 82 Part II: Professionalization in Social Work IV. SOCIAL. WORK AS A PR O FE SSIO N .................................... 84 Introduction ................................................................................ 84 Historical Concern with Professionalization in Social Work ................................................................................ 84 Sociological Approach to Professionalization in Social Work ................................................................................ 110 S u m m a r y .................................. 118 V. A SYSTEMATIC BODY OF T H E O R Y ................................. 120 Introduction ...................... 120 Social Work Education .......................................................... 122 Social W ork R e se a rc h .......................................................... 138 S u m m a ry ............................................................... 146 VI. PROFESSIONAL AUTHORITY................................................. 150 Introduction .................................................. 150 Client-Professional Relationship................................... 150 Worker-Client Relationship in Social Work ............. 154 Professional Monopoly ................................................ 159 S u m m a r y ...................................... 179 VII. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.................................................... 182 Introduction ................................................................................ 182 A Code of Ethics for the Social W orker .................... 187 iv CHAPTER P*ge S u m m a ry ................................................................................ 207 Part III: Occupational Ideologies and Professionalization in Social Work VIH. OCCUPATIONAL ASPECTS OF SOCIAL WORK .... 210 Introduction ................................................................................ 210 Social Work: A Helping Profession............................. 216 Occupational Prestige .................. 228 Work Satisfactions ................................................................ 236 S u m m a r y ............................................... 242 IX. SOCIAL BACKGROUND AND PROFILE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER.......................................................................... 244 S a la r ie s .................................. 244 Female-Dominated Profession: Age and Sex. * . 257 Education and Training ......................... 264 Social Background of Social Workers ................ 271 Sum m ary ............... 296 X. ROLE CONFLICTS AND STATUS INSECURITIES OF SOCIAL WORKERS .......................................................... 300 Scope of Social Work. ....................................................... 300 Training and Education for Social W orkers ............. 306 Social Work P o sitio n s...................................... 312 Membership in Professional Associations................ 323 Career Aspects...................................................................... 325 S u m m a r y ............................... 331 v CHAPTER Page Part IV: Conelusion » XI. CONCLUSIONS................................................................................ 334 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................ 352 APPENDIX ................................................................................... 365 VITA ................................................................................................... 379 vi LIST OF TABLES TABLE Page I. Dallas Social Workers Responding to Questionnaire • 18 II. Sex of Social Workers Responding to Questionnaire . 19 III. Age of Social Workers Responding to Questionnaire . 21 IV. Race of Social Workers Responding to Question­ naire .................................. 22 V. Marital Status of Social Workers Responding to Questionnaire ................................................................................ 22 VI. Profession and Occupation According to Helping Pow er ...................................................* ...................................... 219 VII. Occupations Considered Very Similar to Social Work ............................................................................................ 222 VIII. Occupations Considered Very Dissimilar to Social W o rk ................................................................................................... 227 IX* Social Worker's Ranking of Occupational Prestige . 234 X. Satisfaction Derived from Social Work ............................... 237 XI. Salaries of Dallas Social Workers in 1959........................ 252 XII. Extent of Professional Social Work Education of Dallas Social W orkers in 1959 .......................................... 265 XIII. Undergraduate Education of Dallas Social Workers in 1959 By Y e a r s......................................................................... 268 XIV. Self-Estimate of Social Position in Community by Dallas Social W orkers in 1959 ............................................. 275 XV. Comparison of Class Identification Responses of Dallas Social Workers with Detroit Social Workers and Centers' "Professionals" ............................................ 276 vii TABLE Page XVI. Size of Community in Which Social Workers Were R e a re d ............................................................................................ 279 XVII. Father*s Income of the Dallas Social Workers at Their Secondary School Age............................................ • 281 XVIII. Occupation
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