Book Reviews

Abstract

Ideologies of Caring: Rethinking Community and Collectivism, by Gillian Dalley. Houndmills: Mac-Millan Education, 1988. $ 18.50. 165 pp., Paper. Reviewed By Brij Mohan

Bridges of Respect: Creating Support for Lesbian and Gay Youth, by Katherine Whitlock. American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, PA, 1988. $7.50. 97 pp. Reviewed By Ski Hunter

Courage and Love, by Gisela Konopka. Burgess Printing Company: Edina, Minnesota. 1988. $11.95. 337 pp. Reviewed By Ruth R. Middleman

Social Work Day to Day: The Experience of Generalist Social Work Practice, by Carolyn Cressy Wells. Longman: New York, 1989 2nd Ed. 205 pp. Reviewed By Elbert Siegel

Learning Through Field Instruction: A Guide for Teachers and Students, by Martha L. Urbanowski and Margaret M. Dwyer. Family Service America: Milwaukee, WI, 1988. $15.95. 180pp. Reviewed By Miriam S. Raskin

Dependency and Poverty: Old Problems in a New World, by June Axinn and Mark J. Stern. Lexington Books: Massachusetts, 1988. 178 pp. Reviewed By Frank R. Baskind     

The Influence of Community Upon the Development of Self: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Ritual, a universal human mode of action that serves multiple functions in every culture, is also a powerful source of psychological healing. In recent years therapists have drawn upon the power and creativity of ritual and the rite of passage to help people bring order and definition into their lives and to master various life transitions. This paper describes how adult incest survivors, in published autobiographical accounts, have incorporated the use of ritual into their self‐healing processes. Implications for clinical work are drawn.     

Hope as a form of agency in the future thinking of disenfranchised young people

This paper examines future thinking in a group of disenfranchised young Australians. We draw on literature about individualisation and choice biographies to understand participants’ narratives. Participants that managed to narrate a future expressed strong desires to be ‘normal’, articulating futures marked by traditional indicators: a job, home and family. Yet, their narratives of future were specific to the minimal opportunity structures available to them – a prioritising of paid employment with little concern about the type of work done, a home that was secure but not owned and, often, a wish to regain custody of children. Significantly, many participants could not articulate a future beyond their present circumstances. The uncertainties of their lives shaped their future thinking, through their lack of capital but also through deficit views of themselves as possessing few choices. But, while there was no ‘choice-making’, there was agency: they hoped for something better such as to live securely and to be happier. We suggest that sociological thought pursue a closer understanding of how hope operates in young lives and how it shapes future practice and trajectories. We propose that one way forward is to consider hope as a form of agency conceptualised through relational theories of practice.     

A House Divided: How Nonprofits Experience Union Drives

Drawing from forty in‐depth interviews as well as personal experiences, the researchers identify the areas for argument in unionization drives among nonprofit organizations. The topic is placed in the context of the nonprofit sector's ongoing discussion of its relationship with, and distinction from, the government and business sectors.     

The Family Economic Strain Scale: Development and Evaluation of the Instrument with Single- and Two-Parent Families

The purpose of this study is to develop an instrument to measure economic strain in single-parent and two-parent families. The Family Economic Strain Scale (FESS) originally contains 25 items. Thirteen items is adapted from previous research and 12 are developed for the study. The FESS is pilot tested using data from a sample of 59 single-mother, 12 single-father, and 164 two-parent families. Factor analysis reveals that the instrument contained one 13-itein dimension that is highly reliable (.92). The construct validity of the measure is evaluated using three hypotheses and data from a second study involving 30 single-mother, 30 single-father, and 30 two-parent families. ANOVA and standard multiple regression are used for the analyses. All three hypotheses are supported and variance accounted for is substantial. The FESS is a highly reliable and valid instrument that will be of value to researchers examining perceived economic strain in single-parent and two-parent families.     

Community Attachment in a Rural Setting: A Refinement and Empirical Test of the Systemic Model1

Abstract As they examine the complex issues currently facing rural America, rural sociologists draw increasingly on studies of community attachment. Because this research tradition has established the superiority of the systemic model, recent studies in rural and urban settings have focused on the conceptualization and operationalization of its components. We introduce four operational refinements to this model, and we test our refined model with data from one geographic area in south-west Louisiana. We find that, although our operational refinements improve our understanding of community attachment, additional refinements are necessary. We conclude by exploring the implications of community attachment studies for attempts to revitalize community in rural settings.