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Жизненный мир помогающей профессии в период пандемии: переосмысление символических границ
The article presents the results of the qualitative study of symbolic boundaries in social work during the pandemic of COVID-19 revealed and interpreted in the narrative interviews with practitioners and service users in three Russian cities. The authors consider the features of symbolic boundaries in the relationships that develop in the everyday life of social work under the influence of the challenges of the pandemic, when the contradictions of everyday practice become more complicated, the risks and vulnerability of communication with the clients increase. It is demonstrated that the construction of symbolic boundaries becomes a practical task that social service workers solve in their work routine. The life world of social workers is considered in the trinity of views, experience, and environmental conditions. The social workers’ responds to the main challenges during the pandemic are considered: the growth of barriers in contact and remote work; inconsistency of organizational innovations; new risks in the face of growing needs and vulnerability of clients; burnout risks, emotion and stress management. It is shown that changes in symbolic boundaries, leading to a violation of the integrity of professional identity, require special efforts of boundary work. According to the results of the interview analysis, several types of boundary work are identified: crystallization, closure, suffering, compromise, violation, creativity.