BJSW Advance Access published online on April 10, 2008
British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcn019
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City Welfare in the Sway of Eugenics: A Swiss Case Study
Gisela Hauss is Professor of Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland. Her research and teaching focuses on the history and theory of social work, social exclusion, and gender issues. Her publications include "Retten, Erziehen, Ausbilden": Zu den Anfängen der Sozialpädagogik als Beruf (1994) (Redeem, Educate, Train: On the Beginnings of Professional Social Pedagogy)
Béatrice Ziegler is Professor of History and History Education and Director of the Research Centre for Civic and History Education at the Teacher Training College of the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland. Her publications include Schweizer statt Sklaven: Schweizerische Auswanderer in den Kaffeeplantagen von Sao Paulo (Swiss, not Slaves: Swiss Emigrants in São Paulo Coffee Plantations, 1852–1866) (1981) and Arbeit – Körper – Öffentlichkeit: Berner und Bieler Frauen zwischen Diskurs und Alltag (Work – Body – Public: Bernese and Biel Women between Discourse and Everyday Life, 1919–1945) (2007)
Correspondence to Professor Dr Gisela Hauss, University of Applied Science Northwestern Switzerland School of Social Work. Email: gisela.hauss{at}fhnw.ch
Correspondence to Professor Dr Béatrice Ziegler, University of Applied Science Northwestern Switzerland School of Social Work. Email: beatrice.ziegler{at}fhnw.ch
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Abstract |
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In the 20th century, the eugenics movement in Europe became acceptable for European social work in a number of different contexts. ‘City Welfare in the Sway of Eugenics’ investigates the municipal youth welfare system in Switzerland based on the guardianship case files and reports of two medium-sized Swiss cities. Our research provides insight into how eugenics is linked to social work activities and practices in various political, economic, and institutional contexts.
Our findings reveal how complex and often paradoxical the connection between integration and exclusion in the various fields of social work can be. Crucially, we show that the general principle of integration in welfare was not formulated without any involvement of political programmes. This insight is highly relevant today: amid increasing inequality, social work must be aware of its ambivalent social function in the force field between integration and exclusion. Based on stringent historical research, our article seeks to contribute to the current critical debate on contemporary social work in the context of ever radical social change.
Keywords: Child protection, Eugenics, Gender Issues, History of Social Work, social exclusion, Social Welfare