Gene–Environment Interplay: Where We Are,Where We Are Going

The idea that both genetic and environmental influences contribute to behavioral outcomes is widely accepted. However, the practice of examining candidate Gene × Environment interaction (cGxE) is controversial. In this article, we summarize some of the key issues involved in cGxE research and provide recommendations for work in this area. Highlighted challenges include the selection of the gene, the development of the cGxE hypothesis, and the coding of the genotype. To address these challenges and gain confidence in cGxE findings, we recommend using empirical data to select and code genes/variants, using theory to develop cGxE hypotheses and a rigorous and transparent approach to hypothesis testing. Family researchers have much to offer to the study of Gene × Environment research in view of their process‐oriented theories that are grounded in decades of nuanced measurement of the environment; implementing these best practices will help deliver on that promise.     

Examining Where We Were and Where We Are: Clinical Issues in Adoption 1985–1995

This article examines the changes in adoption practices over the past decade by referencing a series of 1985 articles published by Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal that presented theoretical considerations for maintaining closed adoptions. The author uses her own experience as an adoption professional, those articles currently published in the field of adoption and the experience of those most impacted by adoption, birthparents, adoptive parents and adoptees, in examining and presenting the benefits and value of open adoption.     

Where We Are Now with Intergenerational Developments

ABSTRACT

Intergenerational programs are beginning to burgeon in England. They are relatively recent in their development. The systemic absence of connectiveness between policy developments and services relating to older people and those relating to children and young people is identified. The key strategic players are described. Questions about future developments and research are discussed.     

Feminist Phase Analysis in Public Relations: Where Have We Been? Where Do We Need to Be?

Feminist phase theory provides a classification system for analyzing any evolution in our thinking about women across the disciplines. The 2-fold purpose of this article is, first, to suggest further avenues through which to apply Tetreault's (1985) groundbreaking work and, second, to propose a sixth stage relevant to public relations research. Feminist phase theory defines 5 phases of such research: male scholarship, compensatory, bifocal, feminist, and multifocal. Now, 6 years into the new millennium, I propose adding a sixth, integrative phase. That stage, I argue, will conceptualize women and men in public relations not only as communication professionals, but as human beings often struggling to integrate their work, family, and community lives.     

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.     

The Status of Sociology within the Academy: Where We Are, Why We’re There, and How to Change It

We present data from a survey of deans at colleges and universities throughout the USA on the relative status of disciplines. Findings indicate that the relative status of Sociology within the academy is low, although there are several specific areas of high status—namely, concerning community involvement and engagement. Our analyses also investigate which areas of activity are most closely associated with the overall prestige of disciplines. Findings indicate that research-oriented activities are the most influential, while student-oriented activities have a more ambivalent association with status. Based on those findings, we offer suggestions for raising the status of the discipline, based on the cultivation of natural synergies linking research, community engagement, student training, and focusing on the benefits of establishing social science research centers associated with Sociology departments.     

A Research Note on Canada's LGBT Data Landscape: Where We Are and What the Future Holds

There is a growing international literature on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. One of the biggest limitations for researchers in this field continues to be the dearth of population‐based surveys that include questions on sexual orientation, gender identity, and high‐quality demographic, health, social, political, or economic variables. This research note provides an overview of the current LGBT data landscape in Canada. We start with some of the challenges for researchers studying the LGBT community, including issues of sample size, measurement, response bias, and concealment. Next, we provide an overview of Canadian surveys that include questions on sexual orientation and/or gender identity, including the strengths and weaknesses of each. We end with a brief discussion on newly available administrative data and provide recommendations for researchers and policymakers moving forward.     

Where Women Rebel

While a significant literature on women's participation in armed rebel groups exists, much of this work is focused on individual cases or regional comparisons among movements. This has led to a lack of cross-national work on women in insurgencies, and a limited understanding of the extent to which women are engaged in civil conflict internationally. This article introduces new data on women's involvement in seventy-two insurgencies active since 1990, and assesses the validity of several assumptions about women and rebellion drawn from existing literature on women in conflict and on civil wars generally. I show that women are active in rebel groups much more often than current scholarship acknowledges. This involvement includes frequent service in combat and leadership roles, where male participants are often presumed to be the default. Finally, while forced recruitment tactics are frequently used to bring women into service, much of their participation appears to be voluntary in nature.     

We Can Run But We Can't Hide:

Long-term care costs are not covered to any significant extent by public or private insurance. As a result, nursing home patients often must use their entire life savings to pay for their care and once impoverished turn to welfare in the form of Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor. Private-sector solutions, such as private long-term care insurance, should expand to play a larger role but cannot solve the whole problem by themselves. Reform of the Medicaid program to make the means test less onerous would be desirable, but this approach would retain the welfare stigma. What is needed is a public insurance program to which everyone would contribute and earn the right to benefits when they need them without having to prove impoverishment. Any public insurance program should leave a substantial role for the private sector. Public costs of a social insurance program would be high but not unaffordable, especially since society will incur most of these costs even without an expanded public program.     

What We Talk About When We Talk About Taxes

Taxes are a preeminent issue in domestic politics, but the prevalence, content, and shape of public discussion on taxation is often perplexing to social researchers. We argue that part of the confusion arises from the lack of qualitative data on the meanings Americans associate with taxation. In order to remedy this lack we conducted semi‐structured interviews with white, Southern, small business owners. In answering our questions, our respondents constructed narratives that connected taxation with exploitation and a loss of personal freedom. We propose that everyday fiscal discourse is morally charged and interconnected with boundary work and a sense of group position. Further, qualitative research into tax talk can help make sense of the current political and social landscape (e.g., the continued cultural saliency of the Tea Party).     

Where the Wild Things Aren't

In this article I explore the problems and tensions inherent in staging naturalistic zoo exhibits. Exhibit staging requires zoos to negotiate among a variety of competing aesthetic and organizational demands, including the cultural expectations of audiences, the educational mission of zoos, and the practicalities of managing live animal species. The negotiation of these demands gives rise to a particular set of strategies of impression management in zoos that I call nature making. I discuss a number of dilemmas encountered when creating naturalistic zoo exhibits, as well as three specific strategies of nature making: the spatial control of sight lines; the simulation of nature through plant simulators, synthetic materials, and live animal handling practices; and the censorship of certain animal behaviors and husbandry practices from public view. These strategic practices guide how zoos perform the craft of nature making as both expressive and utilitarian work.