In this theoretical article, the relevance of grounding theories of resistance in a feminist framework will be shown. Two empirical case studies of collective mobilization among feminized welfare professional groups in Sweden are used to illustrate that we, to better grasp resistance and collective mobilization among social workers and other feminized welfare professional groups in the contemporary neoliberal society, need to address the gendered effects of neoliberal management regimes and how these shape and structure resistance in specific ways. The concept of 'a politicisation of care' is introduced, and the article shows how this opens studies into the manifold and sometimes untraditional forms of collective resistance undertaken by welfare professional groups in response to the gendered effects of neoliberal management regimes and austerity. Empirical data from two qualitative case studies conducted in Sweden between 2013 and 2017 targeting collective mobilization exemplify how feminized welfare professions mobilize collectively in contemporary Swedish society, regarding the latter, arguing that this mobilization is key in the struggle over social reproduction in the contemporary care crisis. This theoretical article shows the relevance of grounding theories of resistance in social work in a feminist framework named the politicization of care. This lets us grasp the gendered effects of austerity and contemporary managerial regimes in new public management, as well as the manifold and sometimes untraditional forms that feminized welfare professional groups mobilize collectively. Empirical case studies of collective mobilization among different welfare professional groups in Sweden (social workers, midwives, and healthcare personnel) are used to exemplify how collective mobilization is undertaken by these groups today and how we, through these theoretical perspectives, can deepen our understanding of why-hopefully, clearing some of the ground for further analyses into how welfare professionals, including social workers, are a key force in the contemporary struggles for care and welfare in an increasingly hostile political environment.