Search

Although violence against women is illegal in China, few studies have been published concerning this issue in that country. This article is part of a program of research undertaken in one province of China. The purpose of this study was to understand, from the perspectives of women who have experienced gender-based violence (GBV), the intersections of gender and other social institutions in constructing GBV in Guangzhou, China. The research question was as follows: For women who have been unfortunate enough to be with a partner who is willing to use abuse, how is gender revealed in their discussion of the experience? Women participants ( N = 13) were all over the age of 21, had experienced some form of abuse in an intimate relationship, and had lived in Guangzhou at least for a year prior to data collection. They had a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The majority spoke of GBV as common. “Saving face” was connected to fear of being judged and socially stigmatized which had emotional as well as material consequences. Eight situations in which social stigma existed and caused women to lose face were identified. Gender role expectations and gendered institutions played a part in family relationships and the amount of support a woman could expect or would ask for. The women in this study received very little support from systems in their society. A high proportion (67%) revealed symptoms of mental strain, and three talked about having depression or being suicidal. The results are discussed in terms of identifying the mechanisms by which systems interlock and perpetuate GBV.

Educators play an important role in preventing cyberbullying and encouraging positive online behaviour. In this article we report on the educator portion of a study of cyberbullying at two large, technology-rich secondary schools in Canada. We discuss 17 educators’ experiences with cyberbullying, their knowledge of social networking technology, the priority they place on preventing cyberbullying, and the remedies they suggest. Qualitative analyses of taped interview responses to 16 open-ended questions revealed that they were unaware of the extent of cyberbullying among their students and although they saw prevention as a priority, and were able to pose possible solutions, no policies or programs had been implemented, even by the younger teachers, who were more technologically savvy. Nor were the educators interested in learning the results of the student portion of our research, preferring instead that cyberbullying remain under their radar.

Cyber bullying among youth is rapidly becoming a global phenomenon, as educators, parents and policymakers grapple with trying to curtail this negative and sometimes devastating behavior. Since most cyber bullying emanates from the home computer, parents can play an important role in preventing cyber bullying and in fostering a kinder online world, or what might be termed “cyber kindness.” In this study, we examine parents' knowledge of social networking technology, their level of concern with cyber bullying, their experiences with cyber bullying, and their ideas for preventing cyber bullying and promoting cyber kindness. Three hundred and fifteen parents from three schools in British Columbia, Canada completed a questionnaire, primarily involving open-ended, written responses. We found that parents are not very familiar with the newer forms of online social networking, such as Facebook, blogs, and chat rooms. Further, they are not overly concerned about the problem of cyber bullying, nor are they aware of the extent of cyber bullying among their children. Although a minority of parents looked to stricter controls over technology and more stringent punishment as the solution, most parents thought a more effective way, in the long-term, was for adults in the home and school to model the right behavior, provide opportunities to dialogue with youth, and develop school curricula on this theme. The results demonstrate the need for collaboration among students, parents, and educators.

Educators and the public alike are often perplexed with the enormous and evolving cyber mise en scène. Youth of the digital generation are interacting in ways our fore-mothers and fathers never imagined — using electronic communications that until 30 years ago never existed. This article reports on a study of cyber-bullying conducted with students in grades 6 through 9 in five schools in British Columbia, Canada. Our intent was to quantify computer and cellular phone usage; to seek information on the type, extent and impact of cyber-bullying incidents from both bullies’ and victims’ perspectives; to delve into online behaviours such as harassment, labelling (gay, lesbian), negative language, sexual connotations; to solicit participants’ solutions to cyber-bullying; to canvass their opinions about cyber-bullying and to inquire into their reporting practices to school officials and other adults. This study provides insight into the growing problem of cyber-bullying and helps inform educators and policy-makers as to appropriate prevention or intervention measures to counter cyber-bullying.

Restorative health refers to a construct applicable for those who have been denied access to resources and support necessary for healthy functioning. In two different studies, marginalized girls were interviewed about their experiences of health and justice. Based on their responses and their lived realities, recommendations for a restorative health approach to address their needs are made. The authors argue that a preventative restorative health model would be more effective than a Restorative Justice model in promoting well-being for these girls.

Reporting patients' work abilities accurately is essential in the rehabilitation process. Work assessment and rehabilitation require occupational therapists to be skilled in the use of valid and reliable assessment tools to support clinical reasoning. The aim of this study was to ascertain if the use of two standardised work assessments (SWAs) improved the quality of the information recorded about patients' work abilities. Case note review using a local standard and audit tool was carried out before (n = 42) and after (n = 41) use of the Valpar Component Work Samples and the Worker Role Interview. Anecdotal evidence was also collected. The results demonstrated an improvement in the reporting of most of the areas matched against the standard and the anecdotal evidence was supportive of the use of SWAs. It was concluded that the use of SWAs by skilled occupational therapists improved the reporting of patients' work abilities.

The overrepresentation of Aboriginal women in Canada's justice 1 system is a longstanding social problem that is reflective of wider social and economic differences for Aboriginal peoples. While other minority and/or marginalized groups in Canada may experience similar intersections of race, gender, and class, a special ‘context of difference’, grounded in the colonial legacy of assimilationist policies, exists for Canadian Aborigines. It is argued that a cycle of violence and criminality for Aboriginal women has emerged from this context of difference. The relationship and tensions that exist between the ‘cycle’ and the ‘context’ are explored in an attempt to determine the nature of both. The implications of the relationship on the legal realities for Aboriginal women are discussed as well as the traditional and contemporary theoretical explanations offered for its existence. The paper concludes by considering possibilites for breaking the cycle.

An argument is made that many recent studies on the clinical prediction of dangerous behavior have been, given the methodological complexities involved, overly consumed with questions of validity. It is suggested that while issues of accuracy of outcome will and should remain central, there is also value in concentrating on the sheer description of the activities involved in the making of clinical decisions, on the use of contrived experimentation under controlled conditions, and on attempts to establish interclinical agreement with regard to the ascription of dangerousness. It is proposed that studies on accuracy of outcome require edification through the examination of how individual clinicians and members of interdisciplinary groups arrive at their extrapolations and how they infer causality. Several studies, two based upon the author's own work, are reviewed in an attempt to show how a firm base can be laid for future research on the gauging of clinical expertise.