Rethinking the concept of professionalism: the case of journalism

Journalists in the UK have always been ambivalent about what form of occupational control to pursue. Although resistant to the structures of the conventional profession, they have embraced the idea of 'professionalism'. As the formations traditionally associated with Anglo-American professions become relevant to fewer and fewer employees and increasingly subject to external regulation it is more relevant, we suggest, to investigate how the discourse of 'professionalism' as a set of values and identities can be mobilized by employers as a form of self-discipline. Journalism, notable for its powerful occupational mythology, provides a vivid example of how this process has eased the imposition of radical changes to the organization of work. Now, ironically, recent changes in the occupation's social composition and training may mean that journalists, who have always cherished a self-image as socially marginal, will aspire to conventional professional respectability.     

Social work students’ professional and personal exposure to social work: an Australian experience

General career research suggests that many factors may influence how people select a career, including information about or exposure to the career. The focus of this paper is upon how exposure to a social worker personally (e.g. friend or family) or in a therapeutic capacity (e.g. received social work therapy) may influence the decision to become a social worker, when compared to other disciplines. The results showed that 63% of 64 social work students had personal and/or professional exposure to social work prior to making a career decision. When compared to other students (n?=?447) the social work students were significantly more likely to have accessed social work services (themselves or a family member). The influence of a friend who was a social worker and working with a social worker was noteworthy for mature-aged students. These results highlight that every interaction social workers have with the community provides valuable information about the profession and gives insight into social work as a career. Additionally, the results suggest that the increase in numbers of social workers and the influence of that exposure to a social worker have resulted in an increase in the use of social work services by students, and may continue to rise in the future.     

The Bounded Female Voice in Memorial Ceremonies

Using the Israeli case the aim of this paper is to problematize the male dominance of the memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers and to ask whether it is challenged by female voices. Analysis of 50 accounts of ceremonies (elicited from semi-structured observations) as performed in Israeli schools during the last decade reveals that the female voice is heard loudly and introduces a model of mourning ritual that competes with the heroic canonic memory. Yet this voice is not a subversive one, but rather follows the traditional role assigned for women by the male order and redefines the nation state. A new form of nationalism emerges that shifts its center of gravity from a warrior ethos to an ethos of suffering.     

Subjective discount rates among Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews

In this study, we compare the subjective discount rate for Israeli Jews and Arabs. All the subjects were bank customers, who were asked to bid and ask prices for delayed fixed amounts and for lotteries. The two populations live in the same country under the same laws. Nevertheless, according to the literature, Israeli Arabs seem to be a discriminated minority, who exhibit traits of a traditional collectivist culture, while Israeli Jews are a majority, who exhibit traits of an individualistic culture. As a discriminated minority, Israeli Arab may suffer from lower trust and as a result, according to the “trust” hypothesis, exhibit higher subjective discount rates and higher risk aversion. On the other hand, according to the “cushion” hypothesis, a collectivist society such as Israeli Arabs, provides a safety net for the individual and as a result, he will exhibit lower subjective discount rates and lower risk-aversion. The experimental findings show that the subjective discount rate and risk aversion of Israeli Arabs are significantly higher than that of Israeli Jews. Moreover, higher percent of Israeli Jews are at the low range of the discount rates (below 10%) and lower percent of Israeli Jews are at the high range of discount rate (above 20%) compared to Israeli Arabs. This is consistent with the “trust” hypothesis. For Israeli Jews, the discount rates are closer to the bank interest rate, while Israeli Arabs rates are much higher particularly for receipt. The dispersion of the distribution of discount rate is much larger for Arabs than for Jews.     

Changing economic conditions and their effects on professional autonomy: An analysis of family practitioners and oncologists

This study examines the effects of dimensions of the social structure on professional autonomy. Little support exists for arguments suggesting professional dominance or professional-bureaucratic confrontation. The study supports a theory of social change that places physicians in their historical, political, and economic context. There are four important findings. First, the degree of autonomy varies across physician specializations, and the social structure affects the autonomy of family practitioners and oncologists in different ways. Second, the Federal Drug Administration constrains the responsibility autonomy of both oncologists and family practitioners, and the innovative autonomy of family practitioners. Third, bureaucracy either has no effect or enhances physicians' autonomy. The fourth, and most consistent, finding demonstrates that profit-seeking corporations external to the work setting constrain physicians' autonomy. Findings suggest that researchers should give more attention to shifts in the loci of power and the effects of organizations external to the work setting, especially corporations, on professions.An earlier draft of this paper was presented at the American Sociological Association annual meeting, Miami, Florida, August 1993.     

The role of primitive art on vernacular architecture: Its relevance on contemporary architecture in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is renowned for its colourful and delightful primitive objects of art. This paper offers an alternative explanation of the role of primitive art on vernacular architecture. To understand this role clearly, the meaning and the functions of primitive art are, first, defined. The role played by primitive art among the Papua New Guinean societies is then explained. Finally, the paper suggests the need for a conscious integration of this art into other aspects of development in Papua New Guinea; contemporary architectural works being one of them.