EN JÄMSTÄLLD HANDLÄGGNING

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to examine how social workers within the financial aid unit of the social services use their discretion to promote gender equal participation for their clients in shared households. This study also examines if the social workers encounter challenges to work as representatives for an administrative authority and applying a gender equal perspective. In order to examine these questions, a qualitative method consisting of semi structured interviews was chosen. Six social workers within the financial aid unit of the social services were interviewed. The theoretical framework for the study are theories based on discretion and gender theories. The primary conclusion of this study shows that the interviewed social workers highlights that the administrative system is an element which maintain unequality between the sexes. The study shows that their use of discretion is wider than what they express. A couple of the social workers shows greater confidence in using their discretion, hence promoting gender equal participation for their clients. Another finding in the study is that some of the social workers express a challenge in both promoting gender equality for its clients in shared households, and also respecting the personal integrity of the clients.