O cuidado em saúde mental no Brasil tem passado por muitas transformações, sobretudo a partir dos movimentos que deram início à reforma psiquiátrica brasileira. Entre estas transformações, destaca-se a crescente valorização dada pelas políticas e práticas de saúde à necessidade de maior participação da família no tratamento do doente mental. No entanto, paradoxalmente, acerca da relação mãe-filho, a compreensão de que a convivência com a mãe diagnosticada com doença mental pode ser prejudicial para a vida dos filhos tem tido maior destaque na literatura da área. Este estudo qualitativo teve como objetivo compreender o complexo campo da produção de sentidos sobre relacionamento entre filhos e mães diagnosticadas com um transtorno mental, considerando tanto o discurso científico sobre o tema, como a negociação de sentidos nas práticas discursivas, no cotidiano. De maneira mais específica, buscou-se investigar como filhos de mães diagnosticadas com um transtorno mental significam seu relacionamento e convivência familiar. Foram realizadas oito entrevistas individuais, semi-estruturadas, com filhos(as) maiores de 18 anos de mulheres que fazem tratamento em um serviço de saúde mental em um município de médio porte do interior do estado de São Paulo, diagnosticadas com um transtorno mental, e que já passaram por uma internação psiquiátrica. As entrevistas foram gravadas em áudio e transcritas literalmente e na íntegra. Além disso, durante todo o processo de inserção no campo, foram feitas notas de campo com as descrições e impressões da pesquisadora. Dessa forma, o corpus da pesquisa foi constituído por esses registros e pelas transcrições das entrevistas. A pesquisa foi elaborada com base nas contribuições do movimento construcionista social em Psicologia, sobretudo considerando a pesquisa como processo dialógico, em que a participação do pesquisador e sua reflexividade perante o campo e o corpus é ressaltada na construção da pesquisa. Assim, a partir desse envolvimento e da produção de sentidos conjunta, discutimos aspectos importantes que nortearam a realização da pesquisa e damos visibilidade para reflexões principais do processo. Além disso, também analisamos a produção de sentidos nas entrevistas em dois eixos de discussão: Sentidos de Doença Mental como Déficit e Sentidos de Recurso da convivência. No primeiro eixo, destacamos momentos em que o Discurso do Déficit atravessou as conversas sobre o relacionamento familiar, isto é, momentos em que a doença mental é compreendida como dificuldade ou falha contida no indivíduo (no caso, na mãe-doente mental). No segundo eixo, destacamos os momentos de convivência nos quais houve a possibilidade de ampliar os sentidos sobre a doença mental, dando visibilidade aos recursos construídos na relação mãe-filho. A discussão aponta para a convivência de ambos nas práticas discursivas. Concluímos que apesar da forte influência do Discurso do Déficit no relacionamento familiar com o doente mental, outras narrativas sobre essa convivência são possíveis, evidenciando os recursos que podem ser produzidos conjuntamente nessa relação. Espera-se que esse trabalho possa contribuir com a construção de práticas no campo da saúde mental, ampliando a reflexão sobre a construção do cuidado, especialmente visando uma maior valorização, apoio e fortalecimento das famílias. / In Brazil, the mental health care has undergone many changes, especially as result of social movements, which started the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform. Among these changes, stand out the increasing importance given the health policies and practices to the need for a greater family involvement in the treatment of the mentally ill. However, paradoxically about the mother-children relation, the understanding that to live together with a mother diagnosed with mentally illness can be harmful to the lives of children has been highlighted. This qualitative study aimed understand the complex field of meanings made on relationship between children and mothers diagnosed with a mental illness, considering both the scientific discourse on the theme, such as the negotiation of meanings in the discursive practices, in everyday life. More specifically, we aimed to investigate how children of mothers diagnosed with a mental illness mean your relationship and family living. For this research, eight individuals and semi- structured interviews were done. The participants were adults (with age 18 or more), who their mothers, diagnosed with a mentally illness, are in treatment in a mental health service. In addition, all of mothers have already had psychiatric hospitalization. The interviews were recorded and they were transcribed literally and in full. Moreover, during all process inside the field, field notes with the researcher descriptions and impressions were written. In this way, the field notes and the interviews transcriptions formed the research corpus. The research was draft based on social constructionist movement in Psychology, especially considering the research as a dialogical process. In this process the participation of researcher and her reflexivity about the field and the corpus had emphasis during all research construction. Thus, with the involvement and joint meaning make, important aspects that guided the research and give visibility to reflections leading the process are discussed. Furthermore, we also divided the meanings constructed in the interviews in two pillars: Meanings of Mental Illness as Deficit and Meanings of Resource. In the first one, the centerpiece was when the DD appeared in the conversations about familiar relationship, in the other words, moments when the illness is understood as a difficulty or a fail inside the person (in the case, the mother with mental illness). In the second one, the focus is in moments of living together, in which there was a possibility to amplify the meanings about mental illness, and in this way, giving visibility to resources constructed in the mother-children relationship. Despite the strong influence of DD in the family relationship with the mentally ill, other narratives about this relation was possible, highlighting the resources produced jointly with adult children of the mother in psychiatric treatment, seeking to strengthen the Family as a care unit. It is expected that this study can contribute to the mental health field, amplifying the reflection about the construction of care in this field, especially towards greater appreciation, support and strengthening of families.

Este estudo foi realizado com o uso do discurso construcionista social. De acordo com este discurso, a construção de sentidos sobre o mundo e sobre o homem se dá através da linguagem, nos relacionamentos. As construções são também circunscritas ao contexto histórico e cultural. A linguagem está institucionalizada através de discursos que produzem determinados efeitos, construindo modos de ser e de agir no mundo. No campo de estudos de álcool e outras drogas temos diversos discursos que regulamentam o consumo destas substâncias. O discurso construcionista social nos convida a problematizar estes discursos, assumindo postura crítica frente a eles. A literatura científica apresenta diversos discursos que auxiliam a construir sentido sobre o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas por mulheres. São destacados aqui os discursos epidemiológicos, biomédico, sociológico e psicológico, refletindo sobre efeitos destes discursos. Deste modo, o objetivo deste estudo foi fazer uma aproximação do discurso construcionista social para o campo de estudos do consumo de bebidas alcoólicas por mulheres, mais especificadamente, problematizar o vocabulário disponível na área para a significação das situações referentes ao uso de álcool; analisar as implicações identitárias dos discursos tradicionais da área; produzir interpretações alternativas relativas às questões de uso do álcool (individual e social). O estudo foi realizado em um serviço ambulatorial para tratamento de farmacodependências. Participaram do estudo duas mulheres que fizeram tratamento neste serviço, recebendo diagnóstico de síndrome de dependência de álcool (Miriam e Ana). Os instrumentos utilizados foram caderno de campo e entrevista de história de vida. A análise foi realizada em dois momentos: 1. Imersão no caderno de campo, onde foram identificados discursos, vozes e posicionamentos; 2. Imersão nas entrevistas, onde foi utilizada a ferramenta da análise do discurso, identificando discursos e efeitos destes para construção de versões identitárias e de práticas sociais. Na conversa com Miriam, construímos uma narrativa saturada pelo problema. Com o uso de alguns discursos (ex. papéis sociais de gênero, psiquiátrico, motivação interna) a versão construída da história de Miriam é a de alguém que está impotente frente ao consumo. Na conversa com Ana, construímos uma narrativa de sucesso. Com o uso de alguns discursos (ex. papéis sociais de gênero, autonomia) a versão construída da história de Ana é de alguém que não tem problema com o consumo de bebidas. Entretanto, este posicionamento é colocado em questão pelas vozes dos filhos. A partir de relatos de exceção, são oferecidas histórias alternativas às histórias dominantes. Os discursos produzem diferentes efeitos que só podem ser conhecidos com seu uso. É no relacionamento que os sentidos são construídos e que se abrem as possibilidades de mudança. A postura flexível, responsiva e de co-responsabilidade é sugerida para a abordagem da questão do consumo de bebidas alcoólicas por mulheres, considerando, nos relacionamentos, quais discursos possibilitam a construção de uma relação de ajuda. / This study was carried out with the use of the social constructionist discourse. According to this discourse, the construction of meaning about the world and the being is through language in relationships. Constructions are also constrained by the historical and cultural context. Language is institutionalized through discourses that produce certain effects, constructing ways of being and acting in the world. In the field of study of alcohol and other drugs there are several discourses that regulate the use of these substances. The social constructionist discourse invites us to question these discourses, taking a critical stance towards them. The scientific literature presents several discourses that help to construct meaning about the consumption of alcohol by women. The epidemiological, biomedical, sociological and psychological discourses are highlighted here, reflecting on the effects of these discourses. Thus, the objective of this study was to bring the social constructionist discourse to the field of study of alcohol consumption by women, more specifically, to question the available vocabulary in the area used to make meanings of the situations regarding alcohol use; to analyze the identity implications of the traditional discourses in the area; to produce alternative interpretations concerning the issues of alcohol use (individual and social). The study was conducted in an outpatient clinic for substance abuse treatment and included two women who were treated in this service and had received diagnoses of alcohol dependence syndrome (Miriam and Ana). The instruments used were a field notebook and life story interview. The analysis was conducted in two parts: 1. Immersion in the field notebook, which identified discourses, voices and positioning; 2. Immersion in interviews, where discourse analysis was used, identifying discourses and the effects of these to construct versions of identity and social practices. In conversation with Miriam, we constructed a problem saturated narrative. With the use of some discourses (e.g. social roles of gender, psychiatric, internal motivation) a version of the story of Miriam as someone who is powerless against alcohol consumption was constructed. In conversation with Ana, we constructed a narrative of success. With the use of certain discourses (e.g. gender roles, autonomy) the version constructed of Anas story is of someone who has no problem with drinking. However, this position is questioned by the voices of her children. From the reports of exception, alternative stories to the dominant stories are offered. Discourses produce different effects that can only be known through their use. It is in the relationship that the meanings are constructed and possibilities for change open up. A flexible, responsive and co-responsible approach is suggested to address the issue of alcohol consumption by women, considering, within the relationship, which discourses enable the construction of a therapeutic relationship.

Na construção de políticas sociais atribuiu-se um papel central à família na proteção social e no cuidado com os seus membros. Na saúde, a família assume essa centralidade na Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF), sendo compreendida como objeto da atenção em saúde. Essa centralidade se deu a partir de uma pretensão de mudança no modelo assistencial que visasse a integralidade do cuidado e um olhar para as condições de vida como fundamentais no processo saúde-doença. Tais transformações nos sentidos e práticas de saúde têm sido desafiadoras. A partir da perspectiva Construcionista Social, que orienta esse estudo, compreendemos que os sentidos são construídos nas interações entre as pessoas e que esses configuram práticas sociais. Diante deste quadro de desafios na ESF e a partir da perspectiva adotada, temos como objetivo compreender os sentidos produzidos por profissionais de equipes de saúde sobre famílias em contextos de reuniões de discussão de família/caso na ESF, buscando analisar como esses configuram a produção de práticas de cuidado e também como se dá a dinâmica de construção desses sentidos a partir das negociações entre os participantes. A constituição do corpus foi feita a partir da observação e registros em áudio de 16 reuniões de duas equipes de saúde da família, contando com 26 participantes, dentre eles profissionais e estagiários de diferentes especialidades. A análise foi feita a partir da perspectiva das práticas discursivas, com os seguintes passos: 1) transcrição do material; 2) leitura intensiva e organização do material; 3) construção de sentidos sobre a família, e análise dos repertórios interpretativos, discursos usados, e implicações para ação; e 4) narrativa ilustrativa da dinâmica dos sentidos. Os sentidos construídos na análise foram: a) Família como pessoas que moram juntas: os repertórios usados descreviam os modos de ser família a partir do ambiente em que ela vive, entendendo a família como informante e cuidadora dos seus membros; b) Família como responsável pelo cuidado: repertórios de família como aquela que dá suporte aos seus membros e é responsável por eles; e, por vezes, está sobrecarregada com esses cuidados; c) Família como problema: repertórios que configuravam a família como aquela que é responsável pelo problema de saúde dos seus membros, como aquela que funciona como um estressor para eles ou como aquela que está em situação de risco; e d) Família como rede de relações, sentido que foi usado, mais comumente, em conversas sobre casos complexos, com discussões voltadas para configurações, estruturas e dinâmicas familiares. A partir da análise do processo de discussão da equipe em torno de um \"caso\", foi possível ilustrar o dinamismo desses sentidos nas conversas e como esses são negociados a todo momento. A análise nos permite considerar que há esforços dos profissionais em voltar a atenção do cuidado para a família, porém ainda são comuns práticas centradas no indivíduo e pouco pautadas no contexto e nas condições de vida das famílias. Compreendemos que dar visibilidade a esses diferentes sentidos e seu uso permite reflexões sobre como cada forma de descrever as famílias possibilita a construção de práticas distintas, o que pode contribuir para uma maior reflexão dos profissionais de saúde sobre sua prática cotidiana (Apoio Capes e Fapesp- 2014/08618-6). / In constructing social policies, a central role has been assigned to the family regarding its social protection and care for its members. In Health, the family assumes such centrality in the Brazilian Family Health Strategy (FHS), being understood as a health care object. This centrality is given from an intention of changing the health care model, which should aim integrality of care and a look at/attention towards the living conditions as fundamental in the health-illness process. But the changes in the meanings and health practices have been challenging. From the social constructionist perspective, which guides this study, we understand that the meanings are built in interactions among people and that such constitute social practices. Given these elements - challenges in the FHS and the said perspective - we aim to understand the meanings produced by health team professionals about families in contexts of FHS family discussion meetings. We seek to analyze how these meanings shape the production of care practices and also how these senses are dynamically constructed from the negotiations among participants. The corpus construction was structured from observation and audio records from 16 FHS teams meetings, with 26 participants, including professionals and trainees from different specialties. The analysis was based on the discursive practices perspective, with the following steps: 1) material transcription; 2) intensive reading and material organization; 3) construction of meanings about family, and analysis of interpretative repertoires, discourse use, and implications for action; and 4) illustrative narrative of meanings dynamics. Meanings constructed in the analysis were: a) family as people who live together: the repertoires described the ways of being family considering the environment they live, understanding family as informant and caregiver of its members; b) family as responsible for care: Family repertoires as that which supports its members and holds accountability for them; also, sometimes becomes overloaded with such stewardship; c) Family as problem: repertoire that conceived family as being responsible for members\' health problems, acting as a stressor to them or as one that is at risk; d) Family as relationships network, meaning more commonly attributed in conversations about complex cases, with discussions oriented to settings, structures and family dynamics. From the analysis of a team discussion process on one \"case\", it was possible to illustrate the dynamism of these senses in conversations and how they are negotiated at all times. The analysis demonstrates that professionals endeavor to turn their efforts towards the family, but practices are still commonly centered on the individual and less grounded in context and living conditions of families. We understand that giving visibility to these different senses and their use allows reflections on how each way of describing families allows the construction of different practices, potentially contributing to greater reflection of health professionals about their daily practice (Support Capes and FAPESP- 2014 / 08618-6).

Middle school programs occupy a unique place in choral music education. This study builds upon and makes a unique contribution to the body of literature in choral music education by introducing critical participatory action research into the social ecology (Shotter, 1993) of the middle school choral classroom during the “regular” school day with a non-select choral ensemble. I employed critical participatory action research methodology—a collaborative approach to understanding specific problems in education—because it is a systematic research process conducted for the purpose of generating knowledge that is valid and vital for the well being of learners, communities of learners, and for promoting social change (Carr & Kemmis, 1986; Herr & Anderson, 2005; Kemmis and McTaggart, 1987; Mills, 2010). The purpose of this critical participatory action research study was to create a collaborative model of practice in order to make sixth grade choral music education more relevant and meaningful for learners. In order to accomplish this, I created a constructionist learning environment, applying domains of relevance set forth by Gergen (2001), and examined how this model of practice impacted the pedagogical practices of 19 sixth grade chorus students and their chorus teacher over the period of one semester. All participants collected evidence in the form of video recordings, interviews, journals and portfolios. All evidence was considered in light of the changes that occurred—individually and collectively—in pedagogical and organizational practices and in regard to the original research questions. This report illuminates ways that constructionist principles might be used to create a collaborative model of middle school choral music education and the pedagogical and social practices that emerge when beginning sixth grade students and their chorus teacher share responsibility for teaching and learning.

Tem havido um crescente interesse na inserção de atividades envolvendo programação física em ambientes educacionais, e há diversos trabalhos publicados que comentam sobre os benefícios propiciados por tais atividades, inclusive como forma de incentivar a criatividade em sala de aula. Entretanto, são ainda escassas as publicações científicas que apresentam análises empiricamente fundamentadas relacionadas à avaliação dos efeitos de atividades de programação física no desenvolvimento do potencial criativo de estudantes. A presente pesquisa investigou como a introdução de atividades de programação física no Ensino Fundamental II, a partir de uma abordagem que privilegia processos de exploração e experimentação, impactou o potencial e sentimento criativo dos estudantes. O currículo proposto, baseado no referencial teórico construcionista, foi elaborado com o objetivo de engajar cada estudante e de contribuir para o desenvolvimento de seu potencial criativo, confiança criativa e de novas perspectivas sobre o mundo e sobre si mesmo. Foi identificada a necessidade de adaptar e desenvolver materiais para a aplicação do currículo proposto, e para isso foi criado um kit de programação física, bem como novos recursos de aprendizagem. O currículo foi aplicado a partir de sucessivas reformulações em duas escolas particulares e em uma escola da rede pública. Durante a aplicação do currículo, além das observações em sala de aula e de conversas periódicas com os estudantes, foram utilizados três instrumentos de coleta de dados: (1) realização de entrevistas, (2) aplicação de questionários de percepção criativa e motivação para a aprendizagem e (3) aplicação de um teste de pensamento divergente. Os instrumentos (2) e (3) foram aplicados também a um grupo controle, com pré e pós-teste. A partir da análise das observações de sala de aula e das conversas realizadas com os estudantes, foram identificadas estratégias que podem auxiliar na implementação de currículos introdutórios de programação física no Ensino Fundamental II, bem como os desafios encontrados durante a aplicação da proposta. Os resultados indicam que o currículo proposto teve impacto positivo na criatividade dos estudantes, bem como em sua confiança criativa e motivação para aprendizagem. Os resultados sugerem ainda que os estudantes que participaram das atividades desenvolveram novas perspectivas a respeito de si mesmos e do mundo ao seu redor. / There has been a growing interest in introducing physical programming activities in educational environments, and there are several published works that comment on the benefits provided by such activities, stating they can provide a way to stimulate creativity in classrooms. However, there are still few scientific publications that present empirical analysis related to the evaluation of the effects of physical programming activities on the development of the creative potential of students. This research investigated how physical programming activities, designed from a tinkering approach, influenced the potential and creative feeling of Elementary School students. Our curriculum, based on the constructivist theoretical framework, was elaborated with the goal of engaging every student, and to develop their creative potential and creative confidence. Given the need to adapt and develop materials for the application of the proposed curriculum, we created a physical programming toolkit, as well as new learning resources. This curriculum was applied from successive reformulations at two private schools and one public school in Brazil. In addition to observing students\' behavior in classrooms and periodic follow-up interviews with them, three data collection instruments were used: (1) interviews, (2) questionnaires about creative self-efficacy and motivation for learning, and (3) a divergent thinking test. The instruments (2) and (3) were also applied to a control group, with pre and post tests. We share the learnings that emerged from the activities, the difficulties found during the development of the curriculum, and strategies that may help with the implementation of introductory physical programming curricula in Elementary School. The results indicate that the application of the activities had a positive impact on students , as well as in their creative confidence and motivation for learning. The results also suggest that students have developed new perspectives about themselves and about the world around them.

This thesis explores the social construction of female online child sex offenders within Canadian newspapers from 2010 to 2017. While child sexual exploitation is not a new phenomenon, the nature of this threat, in terms of the ways in which it is facilitated, has changed significantly over the past decade. Notably, a key factor contributing to the sexual exploitation of children in today’s society is the Internet. The anonymity afforded by the Internet, the accessibility to the Internet, and the lack of accountability associated with the Internet (Cooper, 1998) all work together to create a social environment that is conducive to child sexual exploitation. This research explores this new phenomenon, as perpetrated by women. Informed by the social constructionist approach, relevant findings from a review of literature on the media representation of female offenders are then compared to findings from the examination of Canadian newspaper articles pertaining to female online child sex offenders to recognize similarities and differences between respective representations in the media. The results of this work suggest an increase from 2010 to 2017 in the number of Canadian media articles about female online child sex offenders as well as an increase in teacher representation in those crimes. As a result, a progression in the social construction of child sex offenders as well as teachers in Canada is presented.

Tem havido um crescente interesse na inserção de atividades envolvendo programação física em ambientes educacionais, e há diversos trabalhos publicados que comentam sobre os benefícios propiciados por tais atividades, inclusive como forma de incentivar a criatividade em sala de aula. Entretanto, são ainda escassas as publicações científicas que apresentam análises empiricamente fundamentadas relacionadas à avaliação dos efeitos de atividades de programação física no desenvolvimento do potencial criativo de estudantes. A presente pesquisa investigou como a introdução de atividades de programação física no Ensino Fundamental II, a partir de uma abordagem que privilegia processos de exploração e experimentação, impactou o potencial e sentimento criativo dos estudantes. O currículo proposto, baseado no referencial teórico construcionista, foi elaborado com o objetivo de engajar cada estudante e de contribuir para o desenvolvimento de seu potencial criativo, confiança criativa e de novas perspectivas sobre o mundo e sobre si mesmo. Foi identificada a necessidade de adaptar e desenvolver materiais para a aplicação do currículo proposto, e para isso foi criado um kit de programação física, bem como novos recursos de aprendizagem. O currículo foi aplicado a partir de sucessivas reformulações em duas escolas particulares e em uma escola da rede pública. Durante a aplicação do currículo, além das observações em sala de aula e de conversas periódicas com os estudantes, foram utilizados três instrumentos de coleta de dados: (1) realização de entrevistas, (2) aplicação de questionários de percepção criativa e motivação para a aprendizagem e (3) aplicação de um teste de pensamento divergente. Os instrumentos (2) e (3) foram aplicados também a um grupo controle, com pré e pós-teste. A partir da análise das observações de sala de aula e das conversas realizadas com os estudantes, foram identificadas estratégias que podem auxiliar na implementação de currículos introdutórios de programação física no Ensino Fundamental II, bem como os desafios encontrados durante a aplicação da proposta. Os resultados indicam que o currículo proposto teve impacto positivo na criatividade dos estudantes, bem como em sua confiança criativa e motivação para aprendizagem. Os resultados sugerem ainda que os estudantes que participaram das atividades desenvolveram novas perspectivas a respeito de si mesmos e do mundo ao seu redor. / There has been a growing interest in introducing physical programming activities in educational environments, and there are several published works that comment on the benefits provided by such activities, stating they can provide a way to stimulate creativity in classrooms. However, there are still few scientific publications that present empirical analysis related to the evaluation of the effects of physical programming activities on the development of the creative potential of students. This research investigated how physical programming activities, designed from a tinkering approach, influenced the potential and creative feeling of Elementary School students. Our curriculum, based on the constructivist theoretical framework, was elaborated with the goal of engaging every student, and to develop their creative potential and creative confidence. Given the need to adapt and develop materials for the application of the proposed curriculum, we created a physical programming toolkit, as well as new learning resources. This curriculum was applied from successive reformulations at two private schools and one public school in Brazil. In addition to observing students\' behavior in classrooms and periodic follow-up interviews with them, three data collection instruments were used: (1) interviews, (2) questionnaires about creative self-efficacy and motivation for learning, and (3) a divergent thinking test. The instruments (2) and (3) were also applied to a control group, with pre and post tests. We share the learnings that emerged from the activities, the difficulties found during the development of the curriculum, and strategies that may help with the implementation of introductory physical programming curricula in Elementary School. The results indicate that the application of the activities had a positive impact on students , as well as in their creative confidence and motivation for learning. The results also suggest that students have developed new perspectives about themselves and about the world around them.

Titel: “Exposed – but in different ways”. A vignette study on social workers' view of addicted clients based on beliefs about gender. Authors: Caroline Johansson and Linn Johansson. The purpose of this essay was to investigate whether gender affects how social workers in the addiction area assess the client's situation. This was done through a vignette study with a qualitative approach in which six social workers' from four different municipalities participated. The fictional case description was about a client who was in a situation where the use of alcohol and prescription drugs was highlighted. Social factors were also reported when the person in question had two children, a former partner, a current partner and two parents. Two vignettes were constructed with the same content, the only difference was that in vignette 1, the main character was a woman and in vignette 2, the main character was a man. Three social workers received vignette 1 and the remaining three received vignette 2. Individual interviews were conducted and the result was analyzed using a social constructivism perspective focusing on gender. This was done by using the concepts genus order, heterosexual matrix, typing and stereotyping and "making gender". Previous research within the field was also included in the analysis. The result showed that the social workers' made different assessments based on beliefs about gender in a number of different areas. The conclusion is that a discussion needs to be raised about how to create gender equality in social work services which takes into account the different positions that gender entails in society.   Keywords: sex, gender, social worker, addiction, social constructionism.

Anorexia as a nosological category has developed in a western context and is now being applied to people around the world. In order for researchers to know they are asking the right questions about AN as knowledge expands, it is important to understand what meanings Anorexia carries and how those meanings manifest locally. The present study to aid in that understanding by employing a mixed methods (survey and in-depth interviewing) research approach in answering the following question: In what ways are Taiwanese students' explanatory models of anorexia nervosa (AN) congruent with or different from professional understandings derived from the western Bio-medical perspective? In answering this question, this study first addresses the current state of research on anorexia as well as the recent findings from studies done in Asia. Subsequently, the findings of the present research address what are young, Taiwanese adults' notions of the causality of AN. In particular, the present research found that student explanations of AN are focused predominantly on two causal forces; namely, the desire to be thin or the inability to eat as a result of psychosocial pressure arising from some interpersonal interactions. Additionally, Taiwanese students also maintain that AN can be explained by other less common factors. For instance, significantly more males than females believed that AN could be explained by some physiological dysfunction in the anorectic person. This study seeks to contribute to the literature by examining how college-age Taiwanese understand and conceptualize AN; which in turn may help towards understanding how other research conducted among Chinese populations has produced findings that are incongruent with the expectations suggested by the western, biomedical model of anorexia nervosa. There is further need for cross-cultural research on AN including lay understandings. This should focus not only on the "accurateness" of lay models as has been the case with the majority of research on lay models of AN in the past, but future research should consider the appropriateness of current research and public health models that influence both research and policy.

The relationship between the body, food and exercise is complex and remains poorly understood within the athletic population. Much of what is currently known stems from disordered eating literature grounded in objectivist perspectives. While this literature has been fruitful, it has limited our understanding of athletes' eating and body experiences as they have primarily been conceptualized through an objectivist lens as pathological and/or linked to individual psychological deficiencies (e.g., low self-esteem, body image distortion). In turn, the ways in which food and exercise are negotiated and experienced by athletes in the context of taken-for-granted social, cultural and gendered discourses had not yet been explored. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to use an alternative theoretical perspective (i.e., feminist psychology) to look beyond the traditional objectivist notion of `disordered eating' and explore the complex relationship between the body, food and exercise in athletes (i.e., male and female distance runners), including the underlying meanings surrounding the athletic body and the role of gender and power in the social construction of their body experiences. A narrative approach drawing from Sparkes & Smith (2008), Smith & Sparkes (2008, 2010), and Riessman (1993, 2008) was used to accomplish this research goal. As such, participants were asked to tell stories about their body experiences, in relation to both eating and exercising, over the course of two separate individual interviews, as well as to create a visual representation/story of their running experience. These stories stood as the backdrop through which meanings were sought, as they provided a window into larger social, cultural and historical narratives as well as the process of individual meaning-making around the body, food and exercise (Riessman, 1993, 2008; Smith & Sparkes, 2010). A total of nine recreational distance runners (5 males, 4 females) and three elite (i.e., collegiate or post-collegiate) distance runners (1 male, 2 females) participated in the study. Together, these 12 runners produced a sum of 23 narrative interviews and 11 visual narratives, all of which underwent a combined thematic, dialogic/performance and visual analysis. The results of this thorough analysis indicated that the runners' stories were primarily situated in broader self-identity narratives and further demarcated by one of two opposing running narratives that shifted the meanings around the body, food and exercise in complex ways. Furthermore, their stories, along with the construction of meanings around the body, food and exercise, were found to be situated and negotiated within gendered narratives of the self. The ways in which the runners drew upon these narratives, and formed meanings within them, directly impacted their thoughts, emotions and behaviors around their bodies, food and exercise in both empowering (i.e., positive and healthy) and/or disempowering ways. As such, this study highlighted the complexity of the body, food and exercise relationship in distance runners and demonstrated how athletes' eating and exercising practices are socially and culturally formed through the narratives made available to them.