Between the cultural and the professional in management: The experiences of Arab public welfare agency managers in Israel

Abstract

Summary This article examines the dilemmas and coping of Arab public welfare agency managers in Israel, who operate within a culture whose collectivist values may clash with professional social work values. The article is based on qualitative interviews with 12 welfare agency managers in Arab villages in Israel. Findings Analysis of the interviews revealed three focal areas of conflict. The first stems from the managers’ need to balance between their role as service providers and the politics of municipal administration. The second stems from the perception of gender in a patriarchal society. The third stems from the clients’ perception of the managers’ geographical and religious origins. Applications The discussion analyzes the dilemmas through social construction and culture lenses.