Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons^™

Gay And Lesbian Adoptions: A Theoretical Examination Of Policy-Making And Organizational Decision Making, Thom Reilly

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Most of the inquiry into gay and lesbian adoptions has focused on the rights of this population toadopt, the constitutional issues surrounding gay and lesbian parenting, and the outcomes of children raised by homosexual parents. There has been scant focus at the policy-making or organizational level on this issue. Why have public adoption agencies failed to provide either regulation or written policy on the topic of adoption of children by gays and lesbians?

This article pursues a theoretical examination of policy-making and organizational decision making to explore this issue. Additionally, a survey was distributed to adoption officials in each of …

A Comparison Of Gay And Lesbian Sensitivity Trainings On Student Counselors’ Attitudes Toward Same Gender Sexual Behavior, H. Dean Dorman

Dissertations

This study explored the effect of both gender and three different panel discussion formats on the positive modification of attitudes toward same gender sexual behavior. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a control group or one of three treatment groups: (1) a live panel discussion, (2) a videotape of the live panel discussion with a facilitator, or (3) a videotape of the live panel discussion without a facilitator.

Attitudes toward same gender sexual behavior were measured by pre- and posttests of the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale (ATLG) developed by Gregory Herek. Subjects in this study were 86 …

A Tale Of Two Hannas: Observations On Israeli And Palestinian Women's Resistance To Occupation (1991-1995), Christina Pratt

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

An observer reviews the successes and failures of grassroots strategies of non-violent resistance to military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Particular attention is paid to the role of women's groups and peace organizations in Israel as well as in Israeli Occupied Arab Territories.

Lesbian Identity Development And Career Experiences, Mary Jo Thiel

Dissertations

This study used a qualitative research design to explore the experiences of lesbian women with respect to identity development and career issues.

Using the Stage Allocation Measure (SAM) (Cass, 1984), twenty lesbian women who were in the Synthesis Stage (Stage 6) of identity development were identified. In face-to-face, one and a half to two hour interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide developed by the researcher, respondents were asked open-ended questions about their coming out process and their career development .

Interviews were tape recorded and transcribed and the transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory coding techniques. Themes and patterns were …

Analyzing Administrative Experiences: Feminist, Labor, And Organizational Culture Perspectives, Joan L. Arches, Paula Schneider

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A framework is offered for making organizational assessment for change using feminist, labor, and organizational culture perspectives. A vision of a humane work environment is important. The labor literature provides the critical analysis, the feminist perspective provides alternatives, and the concept of organizational culture provides the tool for assessment. Based on an exploratory study with women administrators, the authors look at how differences in values are reflected in the administration and structure of feminist and traditional agencies.

Aggressive Dating Behavior Among College Students, Felicia D. Flowers

Masters Theses

Past studies have revealed that people with traditional gender role views are often involved in dating violence. This study examines both male and female athletes and non-athletes in terms of traditional gender role views and dating violence. Athletes and non-athletes are an important focus because literature is virtually silent on these two populations in terms of dating violence. The researcher surveyed 188 undergraduate students attending Western Michigan University on their attitudes and experiences concerning gender role views, athletic involvement, and history of dating violence, respectively. The results indicate that gender role views and athletic participation appeared to have no significant …

Social Support Networks Of Gay Men, Raymond M. Berger, David Mallon

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Although social workers and other helping professionals frequently stress the importance of social networks among gay men, there has been little empirical research to describe these networks. In the present study, the authors analyze data on perceived social support from 166 gay men recruited through gay community groups and social networks. Most gay men were found to have large and diverse social networks. Frequent communication occurs between respondents and network members, most of whom know of respondents' homosexuality. The most frequent and supportive network member was a close friend, and the most common type of support received was emotional. Those …

Ethnography Of A Lesbian Community In Michigan, Carol W. Burton

Masters Theses

The purpose of this master's thesis is to describe the structure and workings of a community of women in a major western Michigan metropolitan area, who identify themselves as lesbians, and to describe how this subcommunity relates to the dominant American culture in the area. This study examines the ways in which these lesbians define themselves and their subculture.

To facilitate this research, the researcher participated in the group's meetings, both formal and informal, and spoke with individual members about the history of the group, organizational principles, problems and concerns, formal and Informal rules of conduct, values, and any other …

Experiences Of Women Activists: Implications For Community Organizing Theory And Practice, Cheryl Hyde

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The field of community organizing would be wise to heed the words of Abigail Adams to her revolutionary husband, John. Contributions of women activists have been virtually ignored by the field of social work. Consequently, social work has a diminished knowledge base and has alienated large numbers of talented women. Ironically, both the past and the future of community organizing are tied intimately with the action of women. Foremothers include Jane Addams, Dorothea Dix and Lillian Wald. Current trends suggest that "women's issues," such as poverty, the family and reproductive rights, will be on national, state and local agendas for …

Feminist Theory And Social Policy Or Why Is Welfare So Hard To Reform?, Dorothy C. Miller

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

More than 10 years ago Henry Aaron wrote a classic paper entitled "Why Is Welfare So Hard to Reform?" (1973). This paper answers that question from the perspective of the new discipline of Women's Studies. The author suggests that the use of feminist theories; notably those of Hartsock and Chodorow; can further one's recognition and understanding of male bias in social policy development. Tracing the history of U.S. welfare policies for women and children the analysis provides explanations for the differential treatment of women in the welfare system and the failure of work strategies to increase poor women's economic independence. …

Empathy/Role Taking: A Theoretical Model For Feminist Therapy, Michele Wilson, Gayle Twilbeck Wykle

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Feminist therapy is directed not only at individual, but also at social change. Because of this dual aim of feminist therapy, the symbolic interactionist perspective, which describes individual initiative as a source of social change, is suggested as a theoretical orientation which can provide a useful model for feminist therapy. More specifically, the empathy/role-taking model for the clienttherapist relationship is outlined here.

The Impact Of Women Legislators On Introduction Of Social Legislation Into A Southern State House, Marjorie A. Baney

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The study investigated the interest of male and female legislators in social legislation as measured by the number of bills each group introduced. Legislators included in the study were the entire female population of the North Carolina General Assembly House of Representatives serving between January and July 1981, and an equal number of their male colleagues randomly selected. Comparisons of the female and male legislators in the study criteria such as number of legislative terms served, relative power of committees on which they served, number of committee chairpersonships and independent rankings and effectiveness by colleagues, lobbyists and the media revealed …

The Hyde Amendment: Its Impact On Low Income Women With Unwanted Pregnancies, Marjorie R. Sable

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Hyde amendment, which has been in effect since 1977, restricts federal funding of abortions for Medicaid-eligible women "except where the life of the mother would be endangered if a fetus were carried to term." It has virtually eliminated federally financed abortions and the undue hardships it places on poor women foreshadow contemporary developments in abortion politics today for all women.

Working Women's Marginalization In Denmark: Traditional Assumptions And Economic Consequences Of Social And Labor Market Policies, Jennifer G. Schirmer

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Although it cannot be said that women's marginality in the labor market in Denmark from the 1960s to the present was 'planned' in any formal sense, the premise behind social and labor market policy measures, such as daycare and maternity leave, that women primarily serve as part-time service workers to increase economic growth, indicates a form of assumed and prescribed secondariness for women. By engaging the market and the family on strictly traditional terms, the social policy and labor market measures enacted to encourage women's entrance into the labor force in the late 1960s serve to institutionalize women's marginality within …

Our Own Worst Enemies: Women Opposed To Woman Suffrage, Jeanne Howard

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Opposition by women to a movement which identifies itself as for women is not new. In the late 19th and early 20th century female anti-suffragists organized to oppose "the burden of the ballot." The writings of the "antis" (as the female anti suffragists became known) demonstrate an allegiance to class over gender, a sense of powerlessness beyond traditional roles and a fear of change. Exploring this early anti movement may give us a better understanding of the women opposed to the contemporary woman's movement.

National Food Brokers Association Members Communicate Attitudes About Women Working In Food Brokerage Positions, Dennis S. Moore

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to identify the attitudes of the National Food Brokers Association Members in the East North Central states about women working in the food brokerage positions of retail sales representative, sales supervisor, and sales manager. This study examines three hypotheses: (1) The small percentage of women in these positions is due to unawareness of the job titles and opportunities available, (2) The small percentage of women in these positions is due to the fact that top management believes male employees are more effective in relating to principles than women, and, (3) The small percentage of …

Careers Of Women Civil Rights Activists, Rhoda Lois Blumberg

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Stages in the civil rights careers of a sample of women active in northern communities were studied. Committed to racial justice, most intensified their participation in the early 1960's. In the second half of the decade, the "Black Power" phase, roles for whites became fewer. Organizations experienced changes in membership and direction; factionalism ensued. Many, women welcomed black leadership and played roles in new black-lead community agencies. Arrests of blacks allegedly involved in riots elicited support in the formation of defense committees and prison reform organizations. Later, many women entered human service professions; they chose jobs with poor, minority or …