Nas últimas décadas, foi possível observar mudanças na forma como as pessoas estão lidando com as decisões de carreira nas organizações. Além da dimensão profissional, aspectos de âmbito pessoal e familiar estão sendo considerados, evidenciando a importância da integração entre vida e trabalho no contexto contemporâneo. Muitos fenômenos sociais, culturais e políticos têm proporcionado debates relevantes sobre carreira e trabalho no cenário mundial e brasileiro, destacando-se o crescente aumento da participação feminina no processo produtivo, a ressignificação do papel masculino no casamento, o modelo familiar homoafetivo se fundamentando enquanto instituição legal, social e política, e os novos desenhos de carreira que buscam suprir necessidades pessoais e organizacionais. Considerando tais temas, estudos sobre dual career family (famílias em carreira dual) têm sido retomados de forma mais intensa pela academia, buscando investigar como os casais estão gerenciando os domínios do trabalho e da vida familiar, concomitantemente às suas aspirações de carreira. As pesquisas sobre a carreira dual no cenário mundial abordam o relacionamento, os dilemas, os conflitos e as influências na carreira e na família para casais hetero e homoafetivos. Este estudo buscou determinar os fatores que influenciam a carreira dual para casais heteroafetivos, casais de lésbicas e casais de gays, em função das aspirações de carreira profissional e das demandas familiares. Para tanto, foram realizadas doze entrevistas com homens e mulheres em união hetero e homoafetiva da Grande São Paulo, com nível superior e união conjugal de mais de dois anos. Os dados foram coletados e analisados de acordo com a técnica de análise de conteúdo proposta por Bardin (1977). Para os heteroafetivos, constatou-se o crescente compromisso com a carreira dual, fundamentado nos ajustes que ambos os cônjuges realizam para conciliar as demandas profissionais e familiares por meio da busca de interações equitativas de poder. Os homoafetivos direcionam seus esforços à progressão na carreira. Entre os gays, o foco na carreira individual influencia o nível de compromisso com a carreira dual, observando-se relações de poder menos igualitárias na interação do casal. As lésbicas vivenciam o compromisso compartilhado com a carreira dual, baseado em interações igualitárias e em ajustes que ambas realizam para conciliar as demandas profissionais e familiares, e crescerem juntas na carreira. Constatou-se também diferença na tomada de decisões entre o casal baseada no papel de gênero associado ao sexo, construindo socialmente. / In recent decades, changes were observed in the way how people are dealing with career decisions in organizations. In addition to the professional dimension, personal and family context aspects are considered, highlighting the importance of integration between life and work in the contemporary context. Many social, cultural and political phenomena have provided relevant discussions on career and work in the world and Brazilian scenario, emphasizing the increasing female participation in the production process, the redefinition of the male role in marriage, homosexual family model is basing as a legal institution, social and political, and the new career designs that seek to fulfill personal and organizational needs. Studies on dual career family have been taken up more fully in the academy, trying to investigate couples are managing the domains of work and family life, concomitantly to their career aspirations. Research on dual career on the world stage approach the relationship, dilemmas, conflicts and influences on career and family for heterosexual and homosexual couples. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the dual career for heterosexual couples, lesbian couples and gay couples, according to the career aspirations and family demands. Twelve interviews were conducted with men and women in union hetero and homosexual of São Paulo, with higher education and marital union of more than two years. Data were collected and analyzed according to the content analysis technique proposed by Bardin (1977). For heterosexuals, there was the growing commitment to dual career, based on the settings that both spouses hold to reconcile work and family demands by seeking equitable interactions power. The homosexuals direct their efforts to career progression. Among gays, focus on individual career influences the level of commitment to dual career, observing least equal power relations in the interaction of the couple. Lesbians experience the shared commitment to dual career, based on egalitarian interactions and adjustments that both perform to reconcile work and family demands, and grow together in their careers. It was also difference in decision making between the couple based on gender role associated with sex, building socially

The purposes of this study are a) to explore the construct of "marital commitment" in order to achieve a more clear definition of it; b) to identify the component factors involved in the construct; and c) to design and develop an instrument for assessing the construct.

Magister Public Health - MPH / The HIV prevalence rate in Zimbabwe has been estimated at 15% (15 years old and above), which is one of the highest in the world, and HIV/AIDS remains a significant public health problem. The focus of HIV prevention strategies has been on heterosexual transmission since this is the primary driver of the HIV epidemic in Zimbabwe. Heterosexual serodiscordant couples represent an important subpopulation for HIV prevention but are not well studied in Zimbabwe. In Harare almost all serodiscordant couples participating in the HPTN 052 study reported correct and consistent condom use. However, rates of STIs and pregnancies showed that couples in the study continued to have unprotected sex, in-spite of intensive couples’ counselling, quarterly follow up visits and provision of condoms. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore barriers to condom use by these serodiscordant couples in which one partner was on ART in Harare, Zimbabwe. It used a two stage qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews being the primary method of data collection. These interviews were conducted on a sample of five study staff, 15 serodiscordant couples and individuals enrolled in the HPTN 052 study in Harare, Zimbabwe after consent was obtained. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data collected.The study findings showed that partners were in a fairly large age range (30 to 50+ years) with males being slightly older than females. Seven males and five females were HIV positive. Couples had a wide variation in the length of their relationships, from one month to over 15 years as a couple. The study findings also showed that individuals in serodiscordant relationships understood serodiscordance. Problems unique to these couples were identified and broadly categorized as dealing with an HIV positive result, accepting serodiscordance, and difficulty of disclosing serodiscordance to family. Couples also showed understanding of the importance of condom use in a discordant relationship. The most common reason for using condoms was to prevent transmission of HIV to the uninfected partner. The main barriers to condom use were the strong desire to have children, male partner reluctance to use condoms and the influence of the negative partner in determining condom use. Based on these findings, a nuanced approach to prevention strategies, such as condom use and couples counselling and testing, is required. The aim should be to increase understanding of serodiscordance, risk and condom use at all sessions or contacts with couples.

Fertility lies at the heart of Life: it re-invigorates and regenerates. It is one of the most intimate areas of human existence. Worldwide, infertility is on the increase. However, advances in biomedical technologies, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) give hope to those who are suffering from infertility. At the same time it brings the question of moral responsibility into focus. The availability of donor sperm and eggs, coupled with greater recognition of the rights of lesbians and gays to become parents either by adoption, utilising donor material, or openly exercising their rights as already existing parents, have complicated previous more conservative understandings of what ‘family’ means. The epistemological point of departure of this research is described in Chapter 3 and is positioned within postfoundational practical theology, with an emphasis on critical emancipative feminism. The underlying research methodology is the narrative approach, embedded in social constructionism. The research explores the narratives of four couples. These co-researchers, affected by infertility and childlessness, share their stories of surrogacy, secondary infertility, gay parenting and miscarriage that are presented in Chapters 4 to 7. In Chapter 2 the researcher includes her story as someone living with infertility. Particular attention was paid to understand and develop insights concerning preferred lives of fruitfulness in spite of infertility and childlessness. The explored narratives revealed varying discourses that are introduced through out the thesis, but are specifically integrated in Chapter 8. In the final chapter the author reflects critically on the research and writing process as a whole. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Narrative Therapy draws on an understanding of how discourse acts to construct, reproduce and deconstruct power relationships. Therapy is focussed on collaborating with clients in a process of re-authoring their self-stories by critically evaluating the positions made available to them in relation to dominant discourses. Whilst there is a large body of theoretical knowledge on post-structuralism and psychotherapy, very few discourse analyses of psychotherapy sessions have been published. Thus, though post-structuralist therapeutic approaches are theoretically well supported, there is an identified gap in the literature on the therapeutic processes that occur within practice. This research aims to further explore these therapeutic processes, focussing specifically on subject positioning with relation to gender in Narrative Couple Therapy, and the influence of the therapist thereupon. It is based on the analysis of a video of a Michael White Narrative Couple Therapy session, "The Best of Friends." Using discourse analysis as a methodological approach, the analysis seeks first to identify talk that signifies discourses of gender difference, and then to explore how the subjects (therapist and clients) are positioned in relation to these discourses. The analysis focuses on the therapist's activities to investigate the influence of his interactions with the partners on how they are positioned or position themselves within stories of gender difference. The analysis shows that, by working reflexively, transparently and collaboratively with the partners, the therapist assists to render power, restrictive discourses, and alternate positions visible to the clients. The therapist resists being drawn into dominant therapy discourses of expert and patient, and instead continuously recognises the knowledges and expertise that the clients bring to the therapy context. He then works closely with the clients to thicken alternative representations of self.

The topic of interpersonal relationships and the factors that enhance the longevity and strength of these have been well documented. Whilst there has been a steady increase in the occurrence of interracial relationships, it has not been matched by an increase in studies on the phenomenon and indeed very little empirical attention has been given to these relationships. Leslie and Letiecq (2004) highlight that the existing research on the phenomenon focuses primarily on the reasons individuals select partners outside of their own racial group. As interracial marriages are reportedly more vulnerable to divorce than marriages among same-race individuals, it seems important to examine the dynamics and quality of interracial relationships (Leslie & Letiecq, 2004). The goal of the study was therefore to explore the cross-cultural differences that inform the experiences, challenges, and strengths for partners in committed interracial relationships. In this qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual study, the author has explored and described the specific cross-cultural differences that the couple has encountered in their relationship and the impact that these differences have had on the quality of their relationship. Furthermore the study aimed to explore and describe the strengths the couple has drawn from these cross-cultural differences to enhance the quality of their relationship. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques has been utilised to identify interracial couples who have been in a committed monogamous relationship of at least one year. The sample consisted of eleven individuals. Semi-structured individual interviews were utilised as the data collection tool, and Tesch‟s model of data analysis (in Creswell, 1998) has been employed. This model of data analysis consists of eight steps that have been used to analyse the data. Five themes emerged from the study: (1) cultural difference factors, (2) negative factors that influence the couple‟s coping with cultural differences, (3) positive factors that influence the couple‟s coping with cultural differences, (4) factors relating to cultural differences that strengthen the relationship and (5) recommendations to other interracial couples. The findings of the study make a meaningful contribution to couple counselling interventions for interracial couples, and also add to the body of knowledge on this sparsely researched topic.

This thesis investigates the experiences of Malaysian dual-career couples combining career and family. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were used to collect data from 23 dual-career couples. The findings indicate that being in a dual-career relationship impacts upon how they perceive the family’s provider role; career priorities; how decisions are made; and how family work is divided. The experiences described by the participants reflect their gender role ideologies and the salience of family and work roles. The results also reveal how interaction between partners can shape their ideologies and role salience, in addition to how religious and cultural values influence their gender attitudes. A number of challenges faced by the couples are identified. The supports and strategies that help them cope with housework, childcare and work demands are also critiqued. The thesis also highlights the implications of the government and organization’s policies and support to the couples and the kind of policies and support that the couples would like to see introduced. The similarities and differences between dual-career couples in the Malaysian context compared with the West are explored. Additionally, the findings extend the use of gender role ideology and role salience theories to develop an understanding of the couples’ experiences. A summarizing framework of their experiences based on the analysis is presented. In summary, the thesis firstly fills a gap in the dual-career couples’ literature which has previously focused upon Western couples only. Secondly, the study has examines the utility of gender role ideology and role salience as a framework to understand the context of dual-career couples. Thirdly, the current research also makes an important methodological contribution in a Malaysian context. Finally, it provides some recommendations for the government and organizations in Malaysia in terms of policies that promote work-family balance and gender equality for dual-career women.

This study employs qualitative diaries and in-depth interviews with dual-earner couples in order to investigate how the demands of work and family responsibilities are negotiated on a daily basis. The methods used are novel in that in-depth interviews were conducted initially with both members of the couple present, and subsequently with each individual separately. Diaries were also completed by each individual privately, as a means of eliciting their experiences of decision-making in a real-time basis. It is argued that the use of such in-depth qualitative analysis enabled new and important findings to emerge, including distinguishing between different types of decision-making, uncovering important new decision-making cues, and gaining a greater insight into those cues previously acknowledged. The findings also demonstrate how these cues have an impact on decision-making in the context of both parties in the couple. In using both couples and individuals as levels of analysis it is possible to identify how this interdependence is manifested whilst also allowing for the discovery of important strategies used by the couples on a daily basis to resolve work-family conflicts. Balancing work and family is shown to be a continuous work in progress and the methodology used here allowed the daily dynamics of that work in progress to be revealed.

In this thesis I explore the implications of the extension of 'spousal' status to samesex couples from the perspective of queer people who experience intersectional or complex oppression. This study is grounded in a rejection of the necessity or efficacy of attempting to understanding the oppressions facing queer people from only one perspective. I reject the notion that such a simplistic approach to understanding oppression is conceptually honest. Put simply, I argue that what is often characterised as a purely 'gay and lesbian' approach to reform—namely, the consideration of only oppression related to 'sexual orientation' or 'heterosexism'—is in reality the prioritisation of the limited perspective of those who only experience systemic disadvantage related to their race. These people are a small minority of queer people. Unlike many other academics and activists, I do not conclude with a 'yes' or 'no' response to the question of whether same-sex spousal status should be sought. The analysis presented in this thesis does not permit such a final conclusion for three reasons. First, I argue that the implications of the extension of spousal status vary depending on the institutional context; in other words, the extension of spousal status is very different in the context of social assistance law as compared to the provision of employment-related benefits. Secondly, I argue that the extension of spousal status also varies among queer people; for example, the implications of the extension of spousal status to poor queers are vastly different from those who are wealthy. Thirdly, I argue that the decision to support the extension of spousal status to same-sex couples is inherently political; this decision cannot be immunised from political challenge on the basis that it is derived from some allegedly objective legal or socio-scientific calculus. Although I have endeavoured adopt a inter-disciplinary approach, this thesis does focus on legal rights discourse. To my mind, this focus is appropriate given the emphasis on 'rights talk' and the assumed benefits of formal equality within the community of academics and activists working on queer issues. In various parts of this thesis, I focus on the approaches of activists, academics, judges and legislators to the issue of the rights of queer people and the nature of equality. Ultimately, I conclude that until we begin to appreciate the complexity of the oppressions facing queer people, and avoid the false prioritisation of a 'purely gay and lesbian oppression' perspective, we will be unable to work in coalition or to effect progressive social change. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

Este trabalho objetivou conhecer o processo de busca e a clientela atendida em terapia de casal e família. Para tanto, realizaram-se dois estudos. Inicialmente, através de uma revisão sistemática da literatura, foram identificados seis fatores associados à busca pelas terapias de casal e família: fatores pessoais, relacionais, culturais, de gênero, estratégias anteriores de ajuda e tipo de problema. Posteriormente, através de um estudo empírico, a clientela atendida em terapia familiar em uma clínica-escola de Porto Alegre (RS) foi caracterizada. Foram realizadas entrevistas estruturadas com 41 adultos encaminhados para terapia familiar, nas quais foram investigadas variáveis sociodemográficas e familiares, o processo de busca de ajuda, o problema apresentado, tentativas anteriores de ajuda utilizadas e expectativas sobre o tratamento. Os resultados permitem reflexões sobre a prática clínica com famílias em clínicas-escola, especialmente a respeito do envolvimento dos clientes no processo terapêutico e à transição da queixa para a demanda desde o período de avaliação inicial. / This research aimed to investigate the help seeking process and the clients attended in couples and family therapy. To achieve this objective, two studies were realized. First, a systematic literature review identified six factors associated with the search for couples and family therapy: personal factors, relationship factors, gender, cultural aspects, prior sources of help and type of problem. After that, a second study characterized the clients attended in family therapy in a school clinic located in Porto Alegre (RS). Structured interviews with 41 adults referred for family therapy were realized. Sociodemographic and familial variables, the search for help process, the main problem, the prior sources of help and the expectations about the treatment were investigated. These results allows reflections about family therapy practice in school clinics, especially about the involvement of the clients on therapeutic process and the transition from the first complaint to the real demand since evaluation period.