About
Wenche Bekken is Associate Professor at Oslo Metropolitan University, Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy. She has her MSc in social anthropology, and a PhD in children’s participation in paediatric rehabilitation and professional work from the University of Oslo, Department of Health and Society.
Her recent projects are about the transition to adulthood among young adults, and the role of professionals. And second, how social workers produce knowledge in various fields of work. Her current research interests fall into three areas: 1. Critical views on biomedical perspectives and the role of experience of young adults for a social model of human rights and conceptions of normality among professionals. 2. The challenges young adults with disabilities face in their daily life. 3. How the experience of the people with disabilities are reflected in legal, political and social conceptions of citizenship. Other areas of interest are social inequality in health, and the promotion of social aspects of individuals in encounters with welfare services. She holds interest and gives courses in theoretical perspectives on diversity, social work, the philosphy of science and qualitative methods.
Research groups
Research projects
Completed research projects
-
Growing Up and Looking Forward (GULF) - Young people with bodily impairments in transitions
The purpose of this project is to obtain new knowledge about adequate ways of collaboration between youths, their parents, and service providers in health- and welfare services in transition to adult life.
Publications and research
Scientific publications
Harsløf, Ivan ; Innvær, Simon ; Jenssen, Dag ; Bekken, Wenche ; Bode, Ingo (2025). Hybrid Social Work Contested Knowledge, Fragile Collaboration and Social Citizenship. ISBN: 9781035327201. 268 p. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Bode, Ingo;
Innvær, Simon
;
Jenssen, Dag
;
Bekken, Wenche
;
Harsløf, Ivan
(2025).
Evolving hybrid worlds of social work.
Harsløf, Ivan; Innvær, Simon; Jenssen, Dag; Bekken, Wenche; Bode, Ingo (Ed.).
Hybrid Social Work
Contested Knowledge, Fragile Collaboration and Social Citizenship.
Edward Elgar Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035327218
Ulvik, Oddbjørg Skjær
;
Bekken, Wenche
(2025).
Barn i marginaliserte posisjoner: Muligheter for tilhørighet.
Borch, Anita; Bilgrei, Ola Røed (Ed.).
Barns tilhørighet blant mennesker og ting. p. 199-216.
Cappelen Damm Akademisk.
https://doi.org/10.23865/cdf.250.ch9
Bekken, Wenche
(2025).
‘Not prioritized, but very important’: social work captured in medical and psychological reasoning.
Harsløf, Ivan; Innvær, Simon; Jenssen, Dag; Bekken, Wenche; Bode, Ingo (Ed.).
Hybrid Social Work
Contested Knowledge, Fragile Collaboration and Social Citizenship.
Edward Elgar Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035327218.00014
Bekken, Wenche
;
Rugkåsa, Marianne
(2024).
Liminalitet og appropriering: Antropologiske blikk på sosialt arbeid.
Norsk antropologisk tidsskrift.
Vol. 35.
https://doi.org/10.18261/nat.35.1.4
Bekken, Wenche
; Ytterhus, Borgunn; Søderstrøm, Sylvia
(2021).
‘In the Next Moment I Answer, it is Not Possible.’ Professionals’ Experiences from Transition Planning for Young People.
Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research.
Vol. 23.
https://doi.org/10.16993/sjdr.783
Semb, Randi;
Bekken, Wenche
; Borg, Marit
(2020).
Narrow Normality or Inadequate Services? Supporting Citizenship for Young Adults in Challenging Situations.
Journal of Recovery in Mental Health.
Vol. 4.
https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/rmh/arti
Bekken, Wenche
(2020).
Negotiating embodied knowledge in transition to adulthood: a social model of human rights.
Disability & Society.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1816902
Gubrium, Erika ; Bekken, Wenche (2019). Holdninger til velferd. Bruk av dybdeintervju. Aamodt, Hilde Anette; Dahl, Espen; Gubrium, Erika; Haldar, Marit; Hermansen, Åsmund (Ed.). Sosialt arbeid og sosialpolitikk i samhandling. p. 212-225. Fagbokforlaget.
Bekken, Wenche
(2018).
Public Health Coordinator - How to Promote Focus on Social Inequality at a Local Level, and How Should It Be Included in Public Health Policies.
Comment on "Health Promotion at Local Level in Norway: The Use of Public Health Coordinators and Health Overviews to Promote Fair Distribution Among Social Groups".
International Journal of Health Policy and Management.
Vol. 7.
https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2018.74
