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This paper analyses the networks, experiences and aspirations of Nepalese workers in Southern Portugal's farms and greenhouses. The main research objective is to analyse how recruitment networks, which supported the move of Nepalese to Portugal, were established and have rapidly consolidated. These networks impacted not only the increase of irregular migration flows but also the migration experience and vulnerability in the country of destination, including the passive acceptance of a certain degree of exploitation. By highlighting the perspective of the migrants themselves, we examine the impact on their lives, both of the migration experience and of paying large sums to smugglers, usually obtained through indebtment, to enter Portugal. We relate this impact to a context of immigration where the existence of a large informal labour market facilitates these workers being hired as irregular migrants. The study employed secondary data, in-depth interviews and participant observation. As well as migrants, greenhouse owners and recruiters were also interviewed for the study. The main finding is that the disposition of Nepalese to migrate, in which the pressure of the family plays a key role, tends to be reinforced by the action of the networks of recruiting agents. Secondly, the costs of migration and labour exploitation tend to be accepted by the migrants as a way to fulfil their social aspirations and economic necessities. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

This research was aimed at exploring asset-based community development (ABCD) practice of the Awramba community in Ethiopia, focusing on seven specific principles. A qualitative research design, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and document analysis, was used. The findings revealed that Awramba was practicing ABCD, albeit with some practical deviations. Genuine respect for human dignity has enabled its members to effectively implement most of the ABCD principles. Community members have high levels of shared meaning, sense of community/commitment, full participation and democratic power distribution, civil engagement, internally-focused development, bonding social capital, and effective access to internal resources. However, there were poor relationships with external communities and organizations (due to prejudices both from the outsiders and the community itself), and the community was inflexible towards external resource utilization. Interrelatedness among the princi...

In this qualitative study, 48 female prostitutes from Mumbai, India were interviewed to understand their experiences related to their entry into prostitution. Respondents’ vulnerabilities and the role of family and acquaintances in entry were researched. The findings of the study indicate that poverty, marital abuse, sexual abuse and the death of a parent or husband were the main reasons for entry into prostitution. The majority of the respondents were sold into prostitution by family members or acquaintances. This research provides recommendations for policy, practice and research in the area of sex trafficking.

The purpose of this study was to examine college students' perceptions of transformative and culturally competent educators. Using data collected from a cross-section of 194 undergraduate (associate and bachelor level students) and graduate students in social work and other majors from four colleges or universities in the Midwest region of the USA, the findings indicate that transformative and culturally competent educators are important to college students. Using the Students' Perceptions of Transformative Educators Scale (SPTES), the data revealed that the overall mean for the SPTES was high, with a score of 198.24. The range was 131–233. The standard deviation [SD] was 21.55. This mean suggests that students place a high level of importance on attributes of transformative educators. When examining the culturally competent subscale of the SPTES, the data also revealed that students want educators who personify culturally competent attributes. The data illustrated a mean for cultural competence of 63.27....

In 2009, two Idaho prisoners with gender identity disorders (GIDs) settled lawsuits against the Department of Corrections for failing to treat properly their conditions. Prisoners in other states have also sued prison officials for failing to treat their GIDs. Initially, the courts held that prisoners with GIDs did not have a serious mental disorder and thus were not entitled to treatment. However, later courts have held that a GID is a serious medical problem, which implicates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that requires treatment for prisoners’ serious medical problems. No court, however, has ordered sex-reassignment surgery for any transsexual prisoner, despite holding that GID is a serious medical problem. This issue presents an interesting dilemma for the law and has implications for prison mental health professionals and prison administrators. The authors elaborate on these issues and discuss policy implications.

In a time when Americans whisper when race is mentioned and eyes shift to the floor when race is brought up in an ethnically mixed crowd, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorbli...