Gender Differences in Responses to Sexual Coercion

Recent research has indicated that, although females comprise the majority of sexual assault victims, males may experience sexual coercion by a partner at a similar rate. This study of 734 college undergraduate students explores not only the frequency of sexual coercion victimization but the emotional responses to it. This study reveals that males and females report similar levels of victimization. However, females have more negative reactions to the experience. A large percentage of males report a positive emotional reaction to having been sexually coerced. This study explores possible explanations for these differences.     

Activation and ‘coercion’ among Swedish social assistance claimants with different work barriers and socio‐demographic characteristics: What is the logic?

Nybom J. Activation and ‘coercion’ among Swedish social assistance claimants with different work barriers and socio‐demographic characteristics: What is the logic? The study analysed how the work barriers and socio‐demographic characteristics of both activated and non‐activated social assistance claimants influence their participation in activation and exposure to coercion, measured as two opposite indicators – sanctions and exemptions. The study covered 372 social assistance claimants in four municipalities during a period of 1 year. The results suggest that resource activation, which entails education and/or work practice in regular workplaces, often targets claimants who lack work motivation, whereas job activation, which aims at quick entry into the labour market, targets young claimants and claimants who lack formal skills (education and/or work experience). Swedish men older than 25 years appear to run the highest risk of facing sanctions irrespective of participation in activation. Exemptions vary more than sanctions between activated and non‐activated claimants. The results are discussed in terms of five logics operating in social work.     

“和谐 X”构式认知分析

现代汉语中的“和谐X”构式固化特征较明显,能有条件进入变项“X”位的主要有名词、动词和形容词性质的成分以及一些特殊结构,从而形成了“和谐X”构式网络,共同体现着认知上对阐释对象某种参与者角色集合的凸显和角色之间互相协调的空间状态的构式义。而促使该构式形成的动因,既有构式本身发展的原因,亦有认知上的和语用上的原因。     

Linkage leverage democratization and liberalization: is promoting democracy the same as promoting human rights?

Research on transnational human rights promotion and democratization often assumes that human rights promotion and democratization promotion are the same. But evidences from recent studies give reasons to question this assumption. This article compares the EU’s influence on democratization and human rights reforms in 29 countries in East-Europe West-Asia, the Middle East, and North-Africa. The results indicate that the impact of the EU on human rights protection is more notable than its impact on democracy levels. The article explains these results based on the lower level of threat to regime survival as a result of human rights reform, compared to democratization; the transmission of a clear message regarding the importance of the issue of human rights to the EU and to the member states; and the strong economic leverage the EU possess. The article draws policy implications including matching each policy goal with the most effective instruments to achieve it. The most effective human rights promotion instrument is economic pressure whereas democratization is more influenced by emulation processes than by economic pressure.     

An Evolutionary Psychological Investigation of Parental Distress and Reproductive Coercion During the “Coming Out” of Gay Sons

The lack of success of the “coming out” studies over the last three decades to explain and predict parental responses has motivated an evolutionary psychological reconceptualization. According to this reconceptualization, it was predicted that (a) biological mothers would experience more distress and apply more pressure on gay sons to change than would biological fathers and; (b) obligate investment for fathers on dependent sons would cause fathers to experience more distress and apply more pressure on gay sons to change than it would fathers without this obligate investment. In contrast, a cultural-norm hypothesis predicted that fathers would experience more distress and apply more pressure on gay sons to change than mothers. The majority of predictions were tested using 787 participants from two-biological parent families, who were drawn from a total sample of 891 participants from various family backgrounds. As predicted by the evolutionary hypothesis, biological mothers were reported to have been more distressed and coercive than biological fathers, in spite of a strong, societal expectation to the contrary. Furthermore, the results supported the obligate investment argument for paternal reactions. The model not only correctly explained and predicted parental behavior during coming out, but also was shown to unify within its theoretical framework discrepant results from the literature previously considered inconsistent.     

Regional Prevalence,Patterns and Correlates of Sexual Coercion Among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multi-Country Population-Based Study

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the prevalence, perpetrators, and factors associated with forced sexual acts. Methods: Pooled secondary data from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 22 sub-Saharan African countries was used in this study. The individual woman components of the questionnaire involving 148,720 women of reproductive age (15-49?years) were analyzed. Percentages and graphs were used to present distribution of study variables. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with sexual coercion. Results: Forced sexual acts were prominent in Rwanda (15.7%), Gabon (12.3%) and Democratic Republic of Congo (10.9%). The lowest mean age at first forced sexual acts was recorded in Gabon (14.1?years), Comoros and Mali (14.9?years each), whereas the maximum was recorded in Namibia (25.9?years). Results from adjusted logistic regression models identified that factors such as high women decision making power, large spousal age difference, rural residence, Islamic religious beliefs and listening to radio were significantly associated with reduction in the odds of forced sexual acts. Conversely, high-risk partner’s behavior, older age at start of first marriage, early age at sexual debut, most disadvantaged community, education, and the use of newspapers were significantly associated with higher odds of forced sexual acts. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, policies should be reinforced to handle perpetrators of sexual violence especially non-intimate partners. Population-based preventive measures of sexual coercion are essential to complement justice system responses. Our findings also showed the importance of building gender equity as part of sexual violence prevention approach.     

跨层结构“据V单”的演化过程及影响因素

借助语料考查分析了跨层结构“据V_单”的来源形式、发展演变过程以及影响因素,以及“据V_单”的性质和功能。跨层结构“据V_单”的初始结构为“据+NP+V_单”,在语言经济性原则和话语交际“适量准则”的推动下省略NP变为“据+Ø+V_单”结构,“据”和V_单在省略和外部句法环境的双重推力下功能悬空,其后语用需求和语用推理导致构式“据V_单”产生并表传信功能。在构式压制的作用下,构式内的“据”和V_单弱化和改变其本身的意义和用法,与构式整体相和谐。同时,词汇也反过来压制构式,迫使构式“据V_单”具备动词的性质和一部分V_单的句法功能。“据V_单”在现代汉语中具有动词性,具备传信功能、话题标记和话语标记功能。但受同类差异和竞争的影响,构式“据V_单”的内部成员使用和发展是不平衡的。     

构式压制对句式翻译中认知操作的启示

以构式语法和认知转喻为理论基础,对涉及构式压制的句式翻译过程进行了分析.以英语致使移动句的汉译为例,研究发现,译者可以从认知的角度把握构式义对句子整体意义的影响,并利用转喻机制解构压制,探寻到源语句真正的含义.这种语言转换和认知的交互作用,可以提高复杂的句式翻译质量.     

有组织犯罪中的胁迫研究——对一个“黑帮”成长历程的入圈考察

当前,我国刑法理论对作为有组织犯罪常用手段的胁迫行为缺乏专门性的研究.对一个“黑帮”成长历程的入圈考察表明,暴力非但不是有组织犯罪的必要手段,(严重)暴力反倒是其法律风险的最大来源之一;贿赂“保护伞”亦不为黑帮生存发展所必需;一直被刑法忽略的一般胁迫行为已在现实社会互动中演化为黑帮生存发展的最优手段之一.与从前那种以“有组织暴力”为基石的黑社会组织一样,以“有组织胁迫”为主要犯罪手段的“黑帮”同样会侵害法益、破坏生活秩序,同时胁迫手段的使用大大降低了“黑帮”遭受刑事追诉的可能性,刑事立法亟待对此作出回应.     

An Examination of the Use of Coercion by Assertive Outreach and Community Mental Health Teams in Northern Ireland

In mental health services over recent decades, the positivemove away from hospital-based care to community-based serviceshas entailed that people with higher levels of need are beingsupported by community mental health services. This paper beginsby reviewing the literature on coercion in the field of community-basedmental health care and treatment. It is argued that the lackof a critical understanding of the concept and how it is usedby practitioners and agencies can have serious repercussionsfor the rights of service users. Using a quasi-experimental,longitudinal design, the authors then seek to test some of theideas about coercion by comparing the activities of assertiveoutreach and community mental health teams in Northern Ireland,particularly the key ideas of perceived coercion, workers’strategies and engagement with services. Key findings were thatassertive outreach appeared to be more successful at reducingperceived coercion, minimizing the need for coercive strategies,engaging high-risk clients and reducing inpatient bed use. Thesefindings are compared with other studies in this area. The authorsalso argue that there is a need for greater transparency inthe way that practitioners use coercive measures and more explicitguidance is required in this crucial area of mental health practice.