Transgender Competence in Social Work with Older Adults in Sweden

Abstract

Despite a growing transgender aging population with differing needs and care preferences, professional knowledge on gender identity and expression is still limited. This study examines Swedish social workers’ knowledge, experiences, and prerequisites for working with older transgender adults in municipal social services. The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with 16 social workers and the collected data were analyzed using the content analysis method. The analysis is presented through three themes: Heteronormative Discourse, Causes and Consequences of Invisibility, and Terminology and Pronouns. The results indicate that the challenges in social work with older transgender adults are related to invisible needs, a lack of knowledge, and social services organizations that do not prioritize issues related to gender identity and expression. Implications for social work are discussed as an increased reflective practice and a norm-critical approach, in order to grasp the older transgender individual’s specific experiences and needs, beyond stereotypical ideas and thoughts on sexual orientation. However, to be able to develop this reflective practice, institutional and organizational conditions for increased knowledge are required as well as an historical understanding of exclusion and a deeper attention to the meaning of equal treatment. Future research suggestions include examining the relevance of LGBTQ-certification.

Keywords:

• Transgender
• gender identity/gender expression
• older adults
• elderly care
• social workers
• social services

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all social workers who took the time to participate in the interviews. Also, we would like to thank PhD Anna Siverskog, Jönköping University, for contributing with valuable comments on the first draft of this article.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Cisgender refers to a linear gender - where assigned gender, registered gender, gender identity and expression are aligned.

2 “They” can be used as a gender-neutral pronoun and is translated in this article from the Swedish word and pronoun “Hen.”

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sofia Smolle

Sofia Smolle, Ph.D. Student in Social Work at the Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University. Smolle’s research focuses on acknowledgement of older transgender adults in social work as well as on norm-critical approaches. Other areas of interest are queer perspectives, intersectionality, empowerment and LGBTQ + related activism.

Majen Espvall

Majen Espvall, Professor of Social Work, at the Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid-Sweden University. Espvall’s primary research interests center on how neoliberal changes in the Swedish welfare state affect the conditions for social work practice and support exchange in close relationships. Currently she is engaged in research that investigates social workers professional ambitions and organizational practices in social work.