Affilia current issue

Wall Street Takes Welfare It Begrudges to Women

Abramovitz, M. — 2009-04-08

The Role of Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Social Work Practice

Alzate, M. M. — 2009-04-08

The understanding and promotion of sexual and reproductive rights are essential in the social work profession, not only to improve the health status of affected populations but to advocate effectively for social justice and to respond to globalized realities. This article highlights the relevance of sexual and reproductive rights in the philosophical foundation and practice of social work, emphasizes the impact of reproductive health and rights on women's lives, and proposes a social work agenda that will embrace and promote sexual and reproductive rights. It uses policy statements from the International Federation of Social Workers as well as a human rights framework focused on sexual and reproductive rights that stems from the global feminist movement.

Exploring Intersections of Identity With Native American Women Leaders

Barkdull, C. — 2009-04-08

How do Native American women in social welfare leadership roles construct their identities as women, indigenous people, and human service professionals, and from what sources do they draw strength to remain resilient in the face of personal and political challenges? From this qualitative study conducted with four Native American women leaders working in a reservation community in Colorado, five major themes were identified: (a) knowing "who I am," (b) turning points, (c) walking in two worlds (biculturalism), (d) call to service, and (e) women are the backbone (gender and matrilineality). The intersections of race, gender, and place are highlighted. Implications for social work research, practice, and education are also explored.

Hispanic Immigrant Women Talk About Family Planning

Sable, M. R., Havig, K., Schwartz, L. R., Shaw, A. — 2009-04-08

In an effort to discover what can improve family planning services for recently immigrated Hispanic women and to foster cultural competence among health care providers in this arena, the authors conducted four focus groups of recently immigrated Hispanic women in a medium-sized Midwestern community. The focus group discussions covered such topics as health care, knowledge of birth control, domestic life, and economic issues in the United States. The participants demonstrated knowledge of and support for the concept of family planning and specific birth control methods. They also identified issues that challenge the use of birth control at the individual, family, system, and cultural levels.

Moving Within the Spiral: The Process of Surviving

Murphy, S. B., Moynihan, M. M., Banyard, V. L. — 2009-04-08

To uncover implicit and explicit meanings that are embedded in the experiences of adult survivors of sexual assault, the authors conducted interviews with 12 women survivors. Using Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology, they uncovered three relational themes and one overarching pattern from the data. "Breaking down" describes the violence that survivors experience, "making meaning" expresses the ways in which survivors incorporate the assault into the narratives of their lives, and "going beyond themselves" explicates what survivors do with their story, who they tell, and what they want to happen. Moving within the spiral: the process of surviving, the constitutive pattern, contains emerging themes, lived experiences, and the practices of participants.

The Girl Child: A Review of the Empirical Literature

Heidemann, G., Ferguson, K. M. — 2009-04-08

This article presents a critical synthesis of the empirical literature on the girl child. The often-cited issues faced by this population include the lack of access to education and health care, commercial sexual exploitation, and harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage. Despite frequent accounts cited in the literature, there has been no prior comprehensive review of issues encountered by the girl child or accompanying solutions. Adopting the systematic review method, the authors examine 16 empirical studies in relation to their geographic settings, definitions of the girl child, research methods, issues explored, and findings. Recommendations for future research are offered.

Shamanism and Its Emancipatory Power for Korean Women

Lee, J. — 2009-04-08

This article presents a historical and feminist analysis of the role of shamanism in the lives of Korean women. Using critical feminist theory, it examines the concerns of Korean women and their lives in terms of the sociocultural and political environment that has made shamanism a women-dominant spiritual practice even while treating it with contempt. Fundamental to social work is the need to understand human beings in the context of their distinctive environments. This article attempts to increase social work knowledge and awareness about the lives of Korean women and their indigenous spiritual practice of shamanism.

Dorothy Irene Height: Profile of a Giant in Pursuit of Equal Justice for Black Women

Crewe, S. E. — 2009-04-08

Poetry

Fulani, I. — 2009-04-08

Book Review: Shaw, K., Goldrick-Rab, S., Mazzeo, C., & Jacobs, J. (2006). Putting Poor People to Work: How the Work-First Idea Eroded College Access for the Poor. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 208 pp., $32.50 (hardbound)

Newransky, C. — 2009-04-08

Book Review: Residents of Hull-House. (2007). Hull-House Maps and Papers: A Presentation of Nationalities and Wages in a Congested District of Chicago, Together With Comments and Essays on Problems Growing Out of the Social Conditions. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 200 pp., $50 (hardbound)

Hanus, R. — 2009-04-08

Book Review: Bailey, D., McNally Koney, K., McNish, M. E., Powers, R., & Uhly, K. (2008). Sustaining Our Spirits: Women Leaders Thriving for Today and Tomorrow. Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers Press, 132 pp., $24.99 (paper)

Chernesky, R. H. — 2009-04-08

Book Review: Turton, J. (2007). Child Abuse, Gender and Society. New York: Routledge, 152 pp., $125 (hardbound)

Bogolub, E. B. — 2009-04-08

Call for Papers

2009-04-08