Gendered Professional Dynamics in Community Social Work: A Systematic Review of Female Social Workers in China

Abstract

This literature review systematically examines the gendered dynamics of roles, professional identity, and community participation among female social workers. The analysis reveals that their distinctive empathetic and relational competencies significantly enhance service quality and community cohesion, yet simultaneously incur heavier emotional labor and professional vulnerabilities. Gender roles and stereotypes are found to shape their practice while imposing structural constraints. The study concludes that transforming these gendered strengths into sustainable professional capital necessitates supportive organizational environments and equitable career pathways, offering key implications for optimizing community practice and policy.