Reshaping Social Movement Media for a New Millennium

This article contextualizes Indymedia, the Internet-based network of Independent Media Centres (IMCs) that has developed since the 30 November protests in Seattle against the World Trade Organization talks there in 1999. In a short space of time this network has become the backbone of communication for the broad coalition of groups that comprise the anti-capitalism movement. Context is sought from three perspectives: first, through a consideration of new social movement use of the Internet as a radical, socio-technical paradigm to challenge the dominant, neoliberal and technologically determinist model of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This perspective is approached through Paschal Preston's recent work on ICTs in late modernity ('Reshaping Communications: Technology, Information and Social Change', London: Sage, 2001). Second, the article regards Indymedia as the most current manifestation of radical Internet use. It examines the (inevitably) brief history of such use, exploring examples of praxis by anarchist groups, the Zapatistas and factions of the anti-capitalism movement, and assesses Indymedia's place in this history. Finally, the nature and value of Indymedia are assessed using the theoretical tools afforded by recent alternative media scholarship (Atton 2002: 'Alternative Media', London: Sage; and Downing 2001: 'Radical Media: Rebellious Communications and Social Movements', Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage): in particular, Indymedia is examined in terms of its organization, its socio-politics and its news cultures.     

New frontiers facing urban sociology at the Millennium

The article examines some of the major challenges facing urban sociology at century's end given its traditions and lineages. These challenges arise out of the intersection of major macrosocial trends and their particular spatial patterns. The city and the metropolitan region emerge as one of the strategic sites where these macrosocial trends materialize and hence can be constituted as an object of study. Among these trends are globalization and the rise of the new information technologies, the intensifying of transnational and translocal dynamics, and the strengthening presence and voice of specific types of socio‐cultural diversity. Each one of these trends has its own specific conditionalities, contents and consequences for cities, and for theory and research. Cities are also sites where each of these trends interacts with the others in distinct, often complex manners, in a way they do not in just about any other setting. The city emerges once again as a strategic lens for the study of major macrosocial transformations as it was in the origins of sociology. Can urban sociology address these challenges and in so doing once again produce some of the analytic tools for understanding the broader transformation?     

Marriage in the New Millennium: A Decade in Review

This review focuses on broad themes characterizing marital research in the past decade. In addition to continuing themes, such as a focus on conflict, violence, and impact on physical and mental health outcomes, we also address the impact of the Healthy Marriage Initiative on marital research and recent advances in methodology. We highlight an overarching theme that characterizes much of the literature: the importance of context in understanding marital outcomes and the impact of positive marital transactions and marital strengths. Given the increasing diversity of married couples, the attention given to context over the past decade has been timely and appropriate, providing an increasingly solid foundation for future research.     

Taking Adoption Issues into the New Millennium: An Introduction

The prevalence of adoption in our society and our awareness of adoption-related issues have increased markedly in recent years, due to socioeconomic and sociopolitical changes at the national and international level. Given the high incidence of adoption in the United States today, it is perplexing and unfortunate that many adoptive triad members still feel that the complexities of adoption are not fully understood. In addition, many clinicians still feel that clear and useful guidelines and training for therapy with adoptive triad members are hard to find. This introduction addresses these concerns in general in the context of discussing the different contributions included in this special issue.     

Evaluating the Political Participation of Licensed Social Workers in the New Millennium

Abstract

The social work literature is replete with studies evaluating direct practice or clinical interventions, but strikingly few have assessed how well social workers are faring in the political arena. The sample in this study consists of 396 randomly selected social workers licensed in 11 states who completed a 25-30 minute telephone survey. Social workers were surveyed to determine: (1) to what degree social workers participate politically; (2) whether they have the psychological engagement, or motivation, necessary to participate; and (3) whether social workers feel adequately prepared by their program to do policy work. Implications for social work education are discussed.     

Career Services Imperatives for the Next Millennium

This thought-piece reaffirms and updates the 10 “Imperatives for the 90s” articulated in a 1993 issue of The Jossey-Bass New Directions for Student Services Series titled The Changing Hole of Career Services (J. R. Rayman, 1993). In that volume (No. G2), 10 imperatives for the 90s specific to career services in colleges and universities were identified. Some of the issues that seemed critical then remain critical today. Others have been partially resolved and still others have taken on even more importance and urgency. This article reaffirms those 10 imperatives, provides additional support for their legitimacy, and offers speculations about the future.     

Sexual Health for the Millennium: An Introduction

ABSTRACT

This special issue of the International Journal of Sexual Health is devoted to the issues of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the effort by the World Association for Sexual Health to argue that the promotion of sexual health is an essential strategy for attaining those goals. Recently, the World Association for Sexual Health has published Sexual Health for the Millennium: A Declaration and Technical Document (2008). This special issue of the IJSH contains the background papers which served as a foundation for the development of the declaration and technical document. These articles argue that sexuality is a fundamental aspect of being human, that human development must be premised on the promotion of sexual health and is a basic human right for all citizens. Public policies designed to promote human development must make the promotion of sexual health an essential strategy. This special issue is designed to stimulate more interest in the Sexual Health for the Millennium: A Declaration and Technical Document, encourage further analysis and research which will support the statements in the declaration, provoke more advocacy for sexual health, and, most importantly, to stimulate sound and effective public policies to create a sexually healthier world.     

Overrating or Dismissing the Value of Evidence-Based Practice: Consequences for Clinical Practice

Current implementation of the evidence based practice (EBP) model in social work has focused on empirical evidence from efficacy studies, with far less attention to practitioner judgment and client values. Among many clinical social workers the opposite is often true: clinical judgment supersedes the use of scientifically tested techniques. Clinicians may reject EBP as coming out of narrowly focused, possibly irrelevant research, and adherents of EBP run the risk of discounting psychotherapy techniques derived from practice experience or the vast diversity of client situations—both positions threaten our effectiveness. Reasserting clinical judgment and the centrality of clients’ experience into EBP, while enhancing traditional psychotherapy with strong treatment-effectiveness evidence, will improve clinical social work practice, especially in addressing the wide array of human problems and suffering that clients present, especially in the context of globalization and cultural diversity.     

Community-Centered Clinical Practice

Abstract

There has been a longstanding tension between the domains of micro and macro practice in social work practice and academic programs. A set of structural and interpersonal tensions can be identified as interfering with accurate perceptions of the underlying continuity of social work practice that is reflected in the mission of the profession. This analysis addresses this tension by defining the elements needed for the integration of micro and macro practice in the form of community-centered clinical practice. A set of cross-over skills are identified along with recommendations for improved agency operations and professional education related to the integration of micro and macro social work practice.     

Stripping in the New Millennium: Thinking about Trends in Exotic Dance and Dancers' Lives

With the increasing presence of sex and sexuality in American popular culture, the stripping industry is undoubtedly undergoing important subcultural and organizational transition. What are the implications of these changes for the individuals involved? The current paper reviews much of the literature on exotic dance to consider the potential transformations in the organization of the sex industry and how these changes may impact the lives of those involved. Specifically, I note some key differences in the literature that suggest how exotic dance has shifted. I then pose some questions for empirical inquiry. I argue that transformations in the exotic industry are creating new opportunities and challenges for women, and may be particularly deleterious for poor and minority women. I call for sociologists to investigate the consequences of organizational transferal in sexual labor, reevaluate the dynamics of agency and exploitation, and consider the potential differential impact of these trends on poor women and women of color.     

Sexual Harassment: Where We Were,Where We Are and Prospects for the New Millennium Introduction to the Special Issue*

L'article qui suit présente les documents qui existent sur le harcèle-ment sexuel et examine brièHvement les questions qui restent en suspens et la manière dont on pourrait les aborder. II donne des définitions et des concepts, se penche sur la question de la fréquence et de la Constance du harcèlement sexuel, et étudie les corrélations, les stratégies mises sur pied pour réagir et leurs effets. II discute des modèles de pouvoir en place dans les entreprises et dans la société patriarcale ainsi que des théories des rôles et de l'attribution; l'article propose aussi un modèle de responsabilité sociale à multiples facettes. Enfin, il détermine les obstacles qui empêchent encore les femmes de travailler et de vivre dans un milieu sécuritaire. In this article, I summarize the major highlights of the burgeoning literature on sexual harassment and briefly review the remaining issues and how they may be addressed. Definitions and conceptualizations, as well as the incidence and perseverance of sexual harassment are summarized along with correlates, response strategies and effects. Organizational and patriarchal power models as well as role and attribution theories are discussed, leading to a proposal of a multifaceted social responsibility model to better deal with the complexities of sexual harassment. The paper ends with an assessment of the contribution of this special issue to the field, and identifies remaining barriers to safe work and leisure environments for women.