MARCH ARTICLE: Honoring Women in Social Work

March is both Women’s History Month and Social Work Month! In recognition of both, we’re honoring dedicated women in the social work profession

Did you know? Historically and currently, women make up the majority in the social work profession. Statistics show that social work will continue to be a field largely led and shaped by women in the years ahead. According to the 2023-2024 Annual Survey of Social Work Programs published by the Council on Social Work Education, the majority of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral social work graduates were female.

Social work is important because it benefits society as a whole. Social workers play a vital role in helping individuals cope with life’s challenges, while also raising awareness of critical issues and advocating for those in need. Among the women who pioneered social work were activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, who co-founded Hull House in 1889, a settlement house in Chicago providing social services. Mary Richmond who was a practitioner and the author of the book Social Diagnosis, is considered the founder of the social work profession and “the mother of social casework".

Frances Perkins, a social worker and the first female Secretary of Labor, was key in the design of the Social Security Act in 1935. Dorothy Height, a social worker, women’s rights and civil rights activist, was the recipient of many awards over her lifetime of service including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 810,000 social workers in the United States; with a 6% job outlook for the next decade, social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the nation. Social workers are found in many different settings, from health care facilities and social services agencies to mental health facilities, schools, corporations and government.

Did you know? At Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), women make up the majority of OCES’ team of licensed social workers, providing individuals with guidance about a wide range of life changes and challenges. OCES’ social workers can assist with issues related to physical or mental health, housing, financial hardships, and other challenges that older adults and people living with disabilities may face.

Social workers support millions of individuals every day as they navigate life’s challenges and strive to live to their fullest potential.

Join OCES to celebrate Women's History Month and Social Work Month and appreciate all social workers who help improve the lives of individuals and families.

OCES, one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), is the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in the southeastern part of Massachusetts. We invite you to visit our website, www.ocesma.org, to learn more.

"Civilization is a method of living, an attitude of equal respect for all men." – Jane Addams

Sources:
Council on Social Work. (n.d.). Annual Survey of Social Work Programs. https://www.cswe.org/research-statistics-0a2756984f2446870db6e935f0e44221/annual-survey-of-social-work-programs/

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm (visited January 21, 2026).