The (self)worth of money: Conflicting logics between young adults with mild intellectual disabilities and their social workers

Summary Social workers and their young adult clients with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) often clash over money. This is hardly surprising given the very different meanings they attach to money. Social workers tend to see money pragmatically through pedagogical lenses as they seek to support their clients through financial education in order to keep their personal finances in order. But for young adults with MID who often suffer from poverty, debt, and abuse, the spending of money is a way to maintain self-worth. Findings This comes to the fore in our in-depth ethnographic qualitative study, including participant observation of 50 young adults with MID and of 75 social professionals in the Netherlands. This article builds on sociological discussions, combining Zelizer’s meaning of money and Lamont’s notions of self-worth. Applications Taking the meaning of money for young adults with MID seriously has significant implications for social work practice.