ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses what happens when the social work profession tries to manage marginalization among boys and men. It examines how notions of masculinity need to be put into motion to be able to capture several positions of marginalization as well as more hegemonic positions. The chapter considers an ethnographic study that took place at a social services office in Sweden over the course of one year. It also discusses masculinity as being a risk: Is there any truth behind the assumption that being a boy, or being a man, equals being at risk. The chapter describes gender and masculinity in general in social work through previous research and empirical examples. It focuses on evidence-based social work and its possible effect on gender issues in order to understand the ongoing development of social work. The chapter finally presents an alternative approach to masculinity and marginalization.
