Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥

The research team has studied the service needs and encounters with the service system experienced by women with substance use problems, women convicted of crimes, and lone mothers living in poverty.

The other aim has been to develop and clarify the concept of vulnerability. Instead of seeing it as an individual characteristic of women, the researchers understand vulnerability as related to social structures, processes and practices, including the service system itself. The research team has published an article written by Elina Virokannas, Suvi Liuski and Marjo Kuronen concerning the concept of vulnerability. It was recognised as an outstanding publication in 2018 by the European Social Work Research Association.

The findings show that it is difficult for these women to know how to apply for the services. They describe the system as fragmented and complicated. For them, the system looks like ‘a jungle with arbitrary rules’. They often experienced encounters with the welfare system and its professionals as stigmatising, frustrating and even humiliating. Because of these negative experiences and their own feelings of guilt and shame, women often avoid and even resist the service system rather than actively search for help. Instead, they have developed their own coping strategies.

Sometimes these strategies might be harmful, oppressive and contradictory in their consequences. Especially in accepting support and protection from men, women might put themselves at risk of economic dependency, oppression, and physical and sexual abuse.

The service needs of women are often very basic ones, such as a safe home or financial support. In addition, there is a need for long-term, women-specific forms of therapeutic interventions to deal with the traumatic experiences. Based on their findings, the research team calls for a holistic approach and better coordinated services. Currently in Finland, NGOs rather than the public welfare service system provide services for women in vulnerable life situations. Even though NGOs are a valuable part of the service system, the state should not withdraw from its responsibility to provide adequate services.

Marjo Kuronen, together with Elina Virokannas and Ulla Salovaara, have edited the book Women, Vulnerabilities and Welfare Service Systems (Routledge, ). In addition to the Finnish research team, the book includes authors from Canada, Israel, Slovenia, Spain and the UK who have studied related themes.

Further information:

Professor Marjo Kuronen, email: marjo.kuronen@jyu.fi, tel. 040 8054231

Transforming welfare service system from the standpoint of women in vulnerable life situations (Vulnerability -project), Academy of Finland 2016-20

See also /hytk/fi/laitokset/yfi/en/research/projects/welfare/vulnerability_project/book-launch-1