Through empirical, qualitative research and theorisation of the associated findings, this thesis investigates how certain children's homes may operate, making specific reference to sexuality and sexual abuse issues. Two children's homes in two different local authorities were researched via ethnographic research over a two year period. This involved utilising participant observation techniques in conjunction with formal interviews and documentary analysis. The documentary analysis entailed analysing logbooks, care plans and policy or practice documents around residential care and sexuality. The number of interviews conducted as part of the ethnographic fieldwork totalled 39 and the interviewees were comprised of residential workers, managers, social workers and children. This fieldwork was supplemented by 64 non-ethnographic interviews with residential staff, ex residents and other relevant personnel such as HIV workers. Both contemporaneous and historical practices and perspectives were evaluated, information about historical practices being drawn from interviews with some workers and ex-residents and from analysis of past documents in the ethnographic studies. Overall information was gained about over 100 different settings and 14 different local authorities. The empirical work commenced in 1994 and was concluded in 1997. Additionally media documents relating to scandals surrounding the sexual abuse of children in these settings were analysed. Children's homes are 'last resort' residential settings that children, predominantly abused teenagers, or those with behavioural problems are placed in by local authorities. Although the monolithic Victorian poorhouses and asylums were their historical predecessors, contemporary children's homes are now becoming increasingly smaller and many are intra community located. Despite assumptions by some commentators that these settings are no longer institutionalised this research showed the converse; many typically incorporating most of the characteristics delineated by Goffman (1961) as defining 'total institutions'. These features included isolation, uniform treatment of residents, rigid regimes, an emphasis on surveillance and control, and divisive child and staff cultures. These institutionalised settings intensified both the potential for, and the actual occurrence of, sexual and other forms of abuse of children by peers, staff and outsiders. Local authorities perpetuated the abuse not only by inadequate training, policies and support but often by failing to investigate allegations or follow them through thorough! y. The social construction of childhood induding child and adolescent, gendered sexuality, affected how children were perceived both generally and with regard to sexuality in these settings. This led to a protectionist, paternalist stance towards children in care which allowed them little voice and few rights. 11 The sexual beliefs, behaviour and responses of both children and staff were also examined in a deconstructionist manner which revealed the impossibility of separating sexuality from notions of either sex or gender. Sexed, sexualised and gendered behaviour was therefore shown to be performative and also subject to interiorisation, although simultaneously incorporating massive anomalies and instabilities. Both the notions of performative gender and institutionalisation were then broadened and evaluated in terms of a wider analysis of power. The institutionalisation and stigmatisation of children in children's homes was shown to be linked at micro, meza and macro levels with concepts of class, dangerousness and deviance. The sexual beliefs and behaviour of staff, children and the organisations they are embedded within was also found not only to be influenced by the settings and organisations themselves but by wider, gendered, legal, social and psychological structures, laws and discourses.

For some individuals a conflict arises between their religious and sexual identities. Such a conflict can be extremely distressing, and may cause to many adverse and negative psychological consequences. A sample of 10 participants (between 25-54) were recruited and interviewed. Using content analysis, major themes were identified and grouped. Within the interviews a major homogenous experience arose between all the respondents. This homogenous experience can be classified with five major superordinate categories: (a) sources of conflict; (b) emotional and cognitive consequences of conflict; (c) exploration of gay identity; (d) current negative emotions, and (e) religion as a source of strength. Although counseling was considered by participants as helpful, participants pointed to external factors outside of the counseling setting as the most efficacious.

For some individuals a conflict arises between their religious and sexual identities. Such a conflict can be extremely distressing, and may cause to many adverse and negative psychological consequences. A sample of 10 participants (between 25-54) were recruited and interviewed. Using content analysis, major themes were identified and grouped. Within the interviews a major homogenous experience arose between all the respondents. This homogenous experience can be classified with five major superordinate categories: (a) sources of conflict; (b) emotional and cognitive consequences of conflict; (c) exploration of gay identity; (d) current negative emotions, and (e) religion as a source of strength. Although counseling was considered by participants as helpful, participants pointed to external factors outside of the counseling setting as the most efficacious.

The present study is a mixed-method evaluation of the delivery of sexuality education in the context of a youth development program called Cool Girls, Inc. Part one was a quasi-experimental, pre and post-test design for which 216 program participants and 92 demographically matched comparisons were surveyed on variables associated with healthy sexual decision-making. It was hypothesized that participation in the program would be associated with increases in these variables, increases in helping resources for questions about sex, and that helping resources would mediate the relationship between participation and study outcomes. Participation predicted one of the sexual efficacy items: at the trend level. Length of time in Cool Girls, Inc. significantly predicted one attitudes toward sexuality item. Helping resources at time two predicted post-test hope at the trend level. The mediation hypothesis was not tested due to the lack of findings for path b in the mediation model. Part two of the study was a qualitative process evaluation consisting of interviews with each of the program’s site coordinators. Group activities and discussion were the most common forms of delivering the sexuality education. The most common topics were relationships, the body, and sex. Site coordinators tended to express external support, but experienced some internal barriers and barriers to involving parents. It was revealed that Cool Girls, Inc. increases social capital by providing site coordinators as mentors and increasing intergenerational closure. How each part of the study informs one another, as well as limitations and future directions are discussed.

No description available.

Hierdie studie handel oor seksuele frustrasie binne die konteks van die huwelik, en dit gesien vanuit 'n prakties-teologiese vertrekpunt. Vanaf die Bybelse tyd word die seksuele daad verkeerd verstaan. Die sekulere mens beskuldig godsdiens as die oorsaak van seksuele frustrasie wat die mens in vandag se lewe beleef. Eeue-lange misverstande oor God se siening oor die seksuele, het veroorsaak dat seks as sonde en as iets vuil beskou word. As gevolg hiervan het die sekulere mens genoeg gehad daarvan om voorgeskryf te word dat die seksuele net vir die huwelik is. Al die grondbeginsels wat God neergele het vir die gebruik van die seksuele, word saam met die Bybel by die agterdeur uitgevee. Daarteenoor is die seksuele een van die wonderlikste dinge wat God geskep het. God het seks so wonderlik gemaak, dat Hy selfs een hele boek in die Bybel daaraan afgestaan het. Binne die raamwerk van die huwelik, behels die huweliksdaad een van die mees ongelooflikste ervarings en genot wat die mens kan smaak, wat nie vuil is nie en nog minder sonde is. God het dan immers in die begin gese dat alles wat Hy gemaak het "baie goed" is. Hierby ingesluit is die seksuele. Die doel van hierdie studie was om deur middel van Zerfass se model die basis-en metateoretiese perspektiewe vir seksuele frustrasie te ondersoek en 'n praktykteorie vir teologiese berading te ontwikkel. Die navorsing het aangedui dat seksuele frustrasie selfs in die Bybelse tyd nie iets ongewoons was nie, en binne die konteks van God se raamwerk behoort daar nie seksuele frustrasie in die huwelik te wees nie. Die gevolgtrekking van hierdie navorsing is dat mense wat gebuk gaan onder seksuele frustrasie in die huwelik, gehelp kan word om van hierdie frustrasie ontslae te raak en dan 'n voile lewe in Christus, sowel as in hulle huwelik, te kan leef. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Hierdie studie handel oor seksuele frustrasie binne die konteks van die huwelik, en dit gesien vanuit 'n prakties-teologiese vertrekpunt. Vanaf die Bybelse tyd word die seksuele daad verkeerd verstaan. Die sekulere mens beskuldig godsdiens as die oorsaak van seksuele frustrasie wat die mens in vandag se lewe beleef. Eeue-lange misverstande oor God se siening oor die seksuele, het veroorsaak dat seks as sonde en as iets vuil beskou word. As gevolg hiervan het die sekulere mens genoeg gehad daarvan om voorgeskryf te word dat die seksuele net vir die huwelik is. Al die grondbeginsels wat God neergele het vir die gebruik van die seksuele, word saam met die Bybel by die agterdeur uitgevee. Daarteenoor is die seksuele een van die wonderlikste dinge wat God geskep het. God het seks so wonderlik gemaak, dat Hy selfs een hele boek in die Bybel daaraan afgestaan het. Binne die raamwerk van die huwelik, behels die huweliksdaad een van die mees ongelooflikste ervarings en genot wat die mens kan smaak, wat nie vuil is nie en nog minder sonde is. God het dan immers in die begin gese dat alles wat Hy gemaak het "baie goed" is. Hierby ingesluit is die seksuele. Die doel van hierdie studie was om deur middel van Zerfass se model die basis-en metateoretiese perspektiewe vir seksuele frustrasie te ondersoek en 'n praktykteorie vir teologiese berading te ontwikkel. Die navorsing het aangedui dat seksuele frustrasie selfs in die Bybelse tyd nie iets ongewoons was nie, en binne die konteks van God se raamwerk behoort daar nie seksuele frustrasie in die huwelik te wees nie. Die gevolgtrekking van hierdie navorsing is dat mense wat gebuk gaan onder seksuele frustrasie in die huwelik, gehelp kan word om van hierdie frustrasie ontslae te raak en dan 'n voile lewe in Christus, sowel as in hulle huwelik, te kan leef. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

No description available.

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. / As with most non-traditional PhD dissertations, this work comprises two parts: a professional creative component, in this case of literary journalism; and an exegetical research component. Part one, Speaking Secrets, is a non-fiction manuscript which explores voicelessness and the media. It focuses on sexuality secrets and explores what happens when these secrets become public property. Each chapter is written in a literary journalistic style. The genre is used here to intimately explore stories which have – for various reasons – fallen below the radar of mainstream journalism, despite some prior media exposure. The manuscript sets out to re-tell the subjects’ stories, and in that re-telling, determines to give each a voice. Taken together, these stories – written in the literary journalism genre, in accord with the subjects – amount to a form of advocacy journalism. As such, the manuscript also considers what motivates each subject to speak, and the costs associated with telling their secrets. Part two of this dissertation, The Literary Journalist and Degrees of Detachment – an ethical investigation, investigates the complexities of the relationship between the writer and the subject. It also does so in the context of the literary journalism genre, examining the role and influence of the narrator in the telling of a subject’s story. Further, it considers the various methods of maintaining differing degrees of detachment within the writer/subject relationship and against other factors such as ethical journalistic practice and the journalist’s role in upholding notions such as public interest and the public’s right to know. Within this investigation of ethical imperatives, the notion of ‘objectivity’ as it pertains to literary journalism, is examined. This dissertation argues that aiming for accuracy, balance and fairness, in the name of public interest and the public’s right to know, is a credo all journalists should aspire to. To position these terms within the umbrella meaning of the word ‘objectivity’ must not be regarded as antithetical to journalism practice, but something worth practising and teaching. This dissertation argues that rigid adherence to the literal meaning of the word ‘objectivity’ is the downfall of the practice. It is argued that there must be a loosening of the semantics surrounding the debate. The dissertation considers three texts/case studies to demonstrate the spectrum of degrees of detachment writers can maintain. Each text clearly falls at differing points along this spectrum, as do the stories in the manuscript Speaking Secrets. Empathy of the journalist plays a crucial role in the collecting and telling of these stories. Empathy as a notion is almost regarded as anathema to the journalistic industry. This dissertation argues, and exhibits through the execution of the text Speaking Secrets, that empathy is an effective and valid tool of the trade. Indeed, in some instances, it makes for better, more thorough and honest journalism.

The fact that Ben Sira seemingly has a negative attitude towards women or femininity can easily lead to the assumption that the work has a negative attitude toward sexuality. However, this thesis will seek to demonstrate that the author's view on sexuality is complex, subtle, and depends on the context of the individual sayings. First of all we have to make a distinction between the attitudes of the writer of the original Hebrew text of the book and that of the Greek translator. The two texts, produced in different social settings, circumstances, times and places, differ substantially at times in regard to sexuality. Therefore it is essential to treat them separately and to compare them. In addition, the Book of Ben Sira, the longest Jewish wisdom book, is a complex combination of carefully composed wisdom poems that structure the whole work, and of teachings on everyday issues including marriage, family life, self-control, desires and passions, and sexual promiscuity. The openness about issues of eroticism that characterizes some of the poems concerning personified female wisdom is unprecedented in the wisdom writings of Second Temple Judaism. Similarly, the sage dedicates a greater number of passages than other wisdom books, to the discussion of social relations especially in regard to family. In so doing his regular point of departure seems to be what benefits or damages these relations mean, and whether they bring disgrace to a person, especially through sexuality. These all have bearings on the author’s and translator’s views of sexuality, including the position a person or situation under discussion might have in the sage’s social value system. Therefore the thesis examines the wisdom poems, and all sayings that concern sexuality found in discussions of passions, relations with parents, daughters and sons, wives and husbands, and warnings against sexual wrongdoing, including prostitution and adultery. All this is done with a special regard to the differences between the Hebrew original text and the Greek translation.