ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates how two symbolic resources, that is, social rights to welfare and individual human rights to a dignified life, are constituted by events and processes in data which like floating signs are mobilised, move and form these two symbolic resources. Both resources relate to prominent and foundational cultural meanings inherent in the Danish social democratic welfare state model which promotes universalism but also nationalism and cultural integrationism. Social rights as a symbolic resource appear deeply intertwined with the idea of social cohesion and cultural integration within the national territory, and this resource is thus branded as Danish. One paradoxical aspect of social rights being a structuring principle for welfare work is that immigrants and refugees, in line with citizens of the welfare state, are considered to be dependent on the system. The chapter examines how democracy, the idea of equality and social rights for all, is activated and intertwined when welfare workers talk about mothers’ groups.
