Analysis from university students’ viewpoint of social professionals in gender-based violence in Spain

ABSTRACT

Gender-based violence is a pandemic with global impact, and social welfare professionals play a central role in the fight against it. The main objective of this study was to describe and interpret the opinions of a sample of 336 students from the University of Malaga on professional practice in social intervention for gender-based violence. These students were studying degrees in Social Work, Psychology, and University Master’s Degree in Equality and Gender and had previous theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject. A SWOT matrix was applied to collect the data, which were analyzed through ATLAS.ti software. The results clearly show that training and professional experience—and their opposites—articulate the main strengths and weaknesses of the professional collective. Regarding opportunities, students underline the role of resources in all forms, and deficient investment in resources and normative deficits emerge as the main threats. The diagnosis presented provides valuable information for the design of curriculums and public policies that reinforce the task of professionals, present and future, in social intervention for gender-based violence.

KEYWORDS:

• Gender-based violence
• university students
• social intervention
• professional competence
• strengths
• weaknesses
• opportunities
• threats

Author contributions

C.R.P, S.E.F., L.M.R.G., and R.R.R.T. have equally contributed to this study. This paper is part of a project directed by C.R.P. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the University of Malaga, within the project Skills-based learning for professional practice with groups involved in domestic gender-based violence.

Notes on contributors

Carmen Romo Parra

Carmen Romo Parra is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Social Psychology, Social Work, Social Anthropology and East Asian Studies at the University of Malaga. She is a lecturer on the degree in Social Work, as well as on the Master’s programmes in Gender and Equality and Social and Community Research and Intervention, the latter coordinated by her between 2013 and 2016. Her research interests are focused particularly on Gender Studies and older adults and lifelong learning, and within that field she has contributed to a number of nationwide and EU-level projects. This work has led to the publication of monographs, book chapters and articles in journals of recognized prestige in their respective disciplinary field.

Silvia Escobar Fuentes

Silvia Escobar Fuentes is currently Pre-doctorate Research Scholarships in the Department of Social Psychology, Social Work, Social Anthropology and East Asian Studies at the University of Malaga. She is a lecturer on the degree in Social Work andEast Asian Studies. Her research interests are focused particularly on Gender Studies, women empowerment  and adolescents. She has presented several communication about gender relations and sexism: “Analysis of discourses on gender relations in popular music” at the 2019 Madrid Conference “European Association of Schools of Social Work: Meanings of quality of social work education in a changing Europe” and “Sexism and gender identity in reggaeton youth” at the Madrid V International Congress of de Anthropology AIBR “Think about cultures, Change Worlds”.

Luis Miguel Rondón García

Luis Miguel Rondón García is graduate and Phd in Sociology, Diploma in Social Work. Specialist in Analysis and Social Intervention. University Professor. It has two six-year research periods and five research sections. 24 years as an undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral at four Universities. Lead a research group. He has been the director of six doctoral theses. He has made stays at the Universities of Italy, Peru, UNED and the Community of Madrid. He has lectured at six international universities. It has 25 publications in indexed journals. He has published four monographs and 30 book chapters. It has 410 citations in academic google. Winner of a 2019 national research award by the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology. Evaluator of various scientific journals and events. Member of multiple scientific committees and thesis boards. He has directed research projects in competitive calls and transfer through research contracts. He has given various conferences and seminars at international universities (Greece, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Peru). He has held academic positions as Vice Dean, coordinator of the area of knowledge and international relations. He has been a scientific advisor to the Junta de Andalucía and an evaluator of the Evaluation and Prospective Agency of the Generalitat Valenciana.

Rosa Raquel Ruiz Trascastro

Rosa Raquel Ruiz is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Social Psychology, Social Work, Social Anthropology and East Asian Studies at the University and a tutor at the Distance University (UNED) in the Degree of Social Work where she is the coordinator of the Social Work practices. He is in educational innovation research projects and has published articles in leading magazines such as Elsevier. This work has led to the publication of monographs, book chapters and articles in journals of recognized prestige in their respective disciplinary field.