Where Are the Men? Addressing the Gender Imbalance in the Social Work Profession

By Maren Dale

In the U.S., only 18% of social workers are men. The representation is even lower in allied fields like child and school psychology. But in 1968, men made up 38% of the social work workforce.

What happened? And why have other historically female-led professions, particularly nursing, been able to significantly grow the male share of their workforce in recent decades? Perhaps the better questions are, why is it so important for more men to enter social work, and how must the profession respond so the gender imbalance doesn’t continue to trend downward?

More to the Picture Than Outside Factors

Dr. Bruce Thyer, LCSW, is a distinguished research professor at Florida State University’s College of Social Work. He has gained deep insights into all facets of social work in the nearly 50 years since he earned his MSW and entered the profession, including perspectives on the male experience, both as a social worker and working with male clients.

“One reason why the number of men in the profession began declining is because in the middle of the 1970s, a bachelor’s degree in social work first became available and more women began earning that degree relative to men,” Thyer said.

He also points to factors like lower pay and prestige in comparison with other professions, and the fact that social work traditionally reflects the leadership and labor of women.

A Growing Disconnect

Dr. Nafees Alam is an associate professor in the department of Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Kearney who is committed to and publishes works related to men and social work. He stresses that one key reason fewer men are entering the profession is the increasing alignment with progressive political ideologies, which has intensified alongside broader societal polarization.

“Social work’s core focus on empathy, social justice and addressing inequality has become more closely associated with left-leaning politics, both in academic settings and professional culture,” Alam said. “At the same time, the political divide between men and women has widened, with women tending to lean more progressive and men showing more ideological diversity, including stronger representation of conservative views. This growing disconnect makes social work feel less accessible or welcoming to some men.”

He adds that the profession’s strong leftward tilt can feel like an echo chamber, where political conformity is implicitly expected.

“For men who don’t share these views—or who feel that discussions around topics like ‘toxic masculinity’ cast them in a critical light—the environment can seem unwelcoming or even alienating,” he said.

While the political shift is a key driver, he also believes that as women have historically led the profession, the field’s culture may have evolved in ways that feel less inviting to men, not due to overt exclusion but through subtle social dynamics.

‘What Kind of Impact Do You Want to Have?’

Deric Boston, MSW, is on the faculty in the School of Social Work at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. He helps facilitate NCSU’s Men in Social Work group, which launched in 2012. The group meets monthly, and typically meetings begin with a five-minute prompt, followed by group discussion. Engaging with students in this way outside the classroom also has given Boston a firsthand view on the unique issues men entering or considering social work may face.

He acknowledges that the profession still suffers from stereotypes, such as the perception by some that social workers “take babies.” But he also sees other less obvious, underlying factors that may deter some men from entering the field.

“Sometimes families are not supportive of a man who tries to pursue social work,” he explained. “They believe the male must be the breadwinner and because pay in the field is lower, they may send the message, ‘You’re noble, but you’re naive.’”

While family attitudes can have an impact, Boston says, other positive messages about what is possible as a social worker can be even more powerful. He explains how he communicates with young men during college recruiting events or in other situations where a man shows interest in the profession.

“I generally start by asking, ‘What type of impact do you want to have?’ and if they seem responsive, I extend the conversation. I think the draw is being very specific about the impact you can have in lives of individuals,” said Boston. “Some men in our program have been disenfranchised or had a personal experience that raised their awareness. They have developed almost an internal drive and a realization that they can do something about it by becoming a social worker.”

Why It Matters

Bringing more men into social work is about much more than increasing numbers. Consider some key reasons why it’s important to have men in the profession.

• Male social workers help some male clients feel more comfortable simply because both are the same gender. Ensuring that men are part of the social work workforce is essential to meeting the diverse needs of clients. Many clients feel more comfortable when they can choose the gender of their social worker, particularly when discussing sensitive or highly personal topics. A diverse pool of social workers across genders, ages, races and identities allows clients to feel seen, heard and understood in ways that can improve engagement, trust and outcomes. In some cases, clients may be reluctant to disclose issues, feelings or needs if they do not feel represented or if the dynamic feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable.
• Male social workers bring distinct strengths and approaches to the social work profession that add depth and balance to service delivery. Male social workers may use more direct communication styles or establish rapport with certain male clients who might otherwise resist or disengage from services. This can be especially valuable in areas such as addiction services, fatherhood programs and work with adolescent boys, where the presence of a male social worker may help break down barriers and model healthy, supportive interactions. Their presence also helps challenge stereotypes about caregiving and emotional support being exclusively female roles, broadening societal views of what social work entails.
• Male social workers help expand social work’s reach into systems and services predominantly led by men. Having men actively engaged in social work also enhances the profession’s ability to operate effectively in spaces where male participation is traditionally higher, such as criminal justice, veteran services and substance use treatment programs. By bringing even more of a social work perspective into these domains, male practitioners can help bridge divides, advocate for person-centered approaches and ensure that services are responsive to the complex needs of all individuals and communities.

Lessons from the Nursing Profession

Nursing, like social work, has historically comprised more women. However, unlike social work, the nursing profession has been highly successful in recruiting and retaining significant numbers of males into its ranks. In fact, since 2012, the percentage of male nurses has grown by more than 59%, according to 2024 statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In March 2021, the American Organization for Nurse Leadership (AONL) published eight recommendations for recruiting men that may provide insights into those who want to advocate for and recruit men to social work as well. The recommendations are:

1. Recruitment activities should begin prior to high school, as early as 8th grade.
2. Recruitment activities should occur in venues such as athletic events, community events and religious gatherings.
3. Junior high and high school guidance counselors should be educated about nursing as a male career opportunity.
4. Recruitment activities should also target parents and family members.
5. Health care organizations can create summer internship programs that expose males to the nursing profession.
6. Professions with higher unemployment rates should be targeted for second-degree candidates.
7. Alliances with military and veteran services can promote recruitment of military and veteran men.
8. Male nurse alumni of all male junior and high schools should be visible at recruitment events.

Rich Dialogue, Positive Momentum

At NCSU’s Men in Social Work student group, participants, which include both men and women, recently held a discussion focused on men sharing their emotions. Boston describes it as a rich conversation that covered societal expectations, taking care of ourselves as social workers, and having emotions be misunderstood.

“Each man in the meeting discussed that from an early age, they had been socialized not to cry or express their feelings freely,” Boston said. “Also, we started talking about being a man who is supervised by someone who identifies as a woman. The men expressed not knowing how to share real or raw feelings—not because the woman is not supportive, but being male, not wanting to inject anything into that environment that could be misunderstood. There is a woman in the group, and she added her perspectives and together they could discuss overcoming these barriers.”

Another sign of positive momentum at NCSU: The numbers of men in the school’s social work program, although still small, are three times higher than they were just a couple of years ago, Boston said.

Building Momentum

When asked to offer some advice for social workers who might encounter a young man interested in the profession, Boston suggests emphasizing the ability to promote ethical principles such as honesty, justice, advocacy and integrity as a social worker. Another topic that seems to resonate with young men is the fact they can take advantage of leadership opportunities within the profession.

Florida State’s Thyer believes one way to support more men in the profession is to mentor men who already are social workers—or even just check in with them regularly—to see how they are doing, which can help reduce burnout or even help prevent a man from leaving the field. He also reminds that there must be ongoing work to dismantle stereotypes, and an excellent starting point can be to eliminate the use of the term “toxic masculinity.”

“Also providing tuition so a man can earn more credentials or pursue a master’s degree—something that makes the work even more rewarding—is appealing to men,” Thyer said.

Alam, at the University of Nebraska, believes another way to help draw and keep more men in the profession is to prioritize men in leadership positions within social work education and practice, and to shine a spotlight on this good work.

“Their visibility serves as a powerful role model for future male social workers, and demonstrates that the field values and accommodates diverse perspectives and career paths,” he said.

Maren Dale is a writer based in Washington state and has written for NASW since 2009. She has interviewed more than 500 leaders and written for more than 100 organizations in 18 states.