Social Workers as Allies? Gender Confirming Practices and Institutional Limitations in Youth Residential Homes

• Previous research shows that LGBTQ+ youth are over-represented in out-of-home care and that especially transgender andnon-binary youth face challenges during their placement. These challenges stem from, among other factors, the lack ofknowledge and competence of professionals regarding the unique needs of transgender and non-binary youth. In Sweden,there are policies that aim to protect transgender and non-binary youth from discrimination and to promote their sexualand reproductive health and rights, and an increasing number of residential homes claim to have LGBTQ competencewhen competing for placements. However, it is unclear how this affects the everyday experiences of trans and non-binaryyouth at residential homes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the practices and challenges of clinical social workers at residential care homes when working with gender identity and sexual health issues among young transgender andnon-binary youth. Eight semi-structured interviews focusing on professionals’ knowledge and experiences were conductedand analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: i) Knowledge being a personal matter; ii) Heteronormativity and binarity creating consequences; iii) Handling discrimination and harassments; and iv) Creating a trustfulalliance. The results show that knowledge is a personal matter, and social work professionals seek the knowledge theyneed instead of receiving it in education or training. The contextual heteronormativity and binarity creating consequencesat the residential care home pose challenges for social workers and they have to find creative ways to support transgenderand non-binary youth and address the harassments and discrimination that these youth face. Moreover, the social workersshare their strategies regarding how they are creating a trustful alliance. Overall, they identify significant challenges todeveloping clinical social work that is affirming of transgender and non-binary youth.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Transgender and non-binary youth

Gender confirming practices

Youth residential homes

Clinical social workers

Sweden

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)