Between autonomy and subordination: The micro-production mechanism of professional roles in a Chinese street social workstation

Abstract

Based on the dilemma social workers face at the grassroots level in a street social workstation, this article discusses the micro-production mechanism of their professional role in China. Along with the life cycle of the social workstation, three different sets of camouflage schemes have been formed, namely, isomorphism, polymorphism, and heterogeneous isomorphism, to avoid identity crises and continue the survival logic. This study argues that the social workstation can not only be viewed as outsourcing of government social functions but rather bring the possibility of using social work methods as national governance techniques. The camouflage practice of social workers is an important manifestation of the penetration of national governance into society through the flexibility of social organizations. This new form of social work professional practice means that social workers have gradually evolved into stewards of government management, posing challenges to their professional roles and leading to more complex individual actions.