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Gendered Responsibilization and Informal Care: The Dynamics of Support and Governance in Swedish Social Work
University of Borås, Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7615-1425
2025 (English)In: Affilia, ISSN 0886-1099, E-ISSN 1552-3020, article id 08861099251375924Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This article examines informal care in the Swedish welfare state from the perspectives of informal carers (ICs) and the frontline social workers who support them, known as informal care advisors (ICAs). Using a theoretical framework that integrates the neoliberal governance of social work, the concept of gendered responsibilization from Wendy Brown, and Julia Twigg's typology of ICs, the article explores how ICs are positioned within and between informal and formal care systems, how gender and responsibility are managed in this process, and how psychosocial support provided by ICAs plays into these dynamics. Based on in-depth interviews with ICs and focus group discussions with ICAs, the article introduces boundary-setting as an empirically grounded concept that highlights how ICs are encouraged to define the limits of their caregiving, while simultaneously being relied upon to compensate for gaps in public provision. The findings show that while ICAs offer vital psychosocial support, their individually oriented practices may inadvertently reinforce gendered responsibilization and the retreat of public responsibility. In doing so, the study illustrates how neoliberal rationalities are embedded in Swedish welfare and social work practice and thus contribute to the broader field of critical and feminist social work. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
SAGE Open, 2025. article id 08861099251375924
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Social Work
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URN: urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-34499DOI: 10.1177/08861099251375924ISI: 001566001200001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105015350163OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hb-34499DiVA, id: diva2:2010044
Available from: 2025-10-29 Created: 2025-10-29 Last updated: 2026-03-04Bibliographically approved

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Palmqvist, Lina

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CiteExportLink to record
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Citation style
  • harvard-cite-them-right
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More styles
Language
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