The aim of this study is to understand what type of experience the social workers in child protection, in the children and family unit at the social services, have of working with fathers and their children exposed to domestic violence and identify construction of genders bias to the social workers in child protections work.

I intend to analyze the experiences of the social workers in child protection had with working with battered fathers and children by Johnssons (1995) and Isdal (2017) psychological strategies that’s been used in strategies in practices of abuse, situational abuse, systematic abuse, the theories of gender and masculinities and Nils Christies theory of the ideal victim. Further on I tried to find out how the social workers in child protection understand women/mother’s abuse towards fathers. Finally, I wanted to know which help and support the battered fathers and their children are given. To find the answers of the study’s aim and approach to the problems, I have used a qualitative study where I have interviewed nine social workers in child protection in the children and family unit at the social services in three different cities. My empirical material shows different experiences of working with battered fathers and their children.

Seven out of nine social workers in child protection had no experience of working with fathers that have had been exposed to sexual abuse by their children’s mother. Six out of nine social workers in child protection had experience of working with fathers that had been subject of physical abuse. Working with fathers that had been exposed of psychological abuse by their children’s mother seven out of nine social workers in child protection had experience of. Two out of nine social workers in child protection had met fathers that had been exposed to financial abuse by their children’s mother. None of the social workers in child protection had experience of working with fathers that have been exposed to negligence from their children’s mother. Eight out of nine social workers in child protection stated that battered men might be ashamed of being abused and find it hard to talk about it. Social workers in child protection contemplated that men are ashamed of being abused because they are stronger and physical bigger than the women. The majority of the social workers in child protection advised that battered fathers get the same protection, help and support that as if it was a battered mother. Some examples of what help an abused father can get is protected living, therapy and there is a domestic violence hotline for men. A few social workers in child protection argue that the battered fathers and their children get less help compared to battered mothers and their children. The majority of the social workers in child protection stated that it is easier to ii observe and pay attention to battered mothers and their children compared to battered fathers and their children.