Social infrastructure and community economic development strategies: the case of self-development and industrial recruitment in rural Iowa

This research examines the relationship between features of community social organization and the existence of two contrasting types of economic development, self-development and industrial recruitment in rural places. Self-development is an endogenous form of development relying primarily on entrepreneurism and local resources. Industrial recruitment is an exogenous form of development that seeks outside investors and firms to locate in the community. Using data collected in a statewide sample of 99 Iowa communities, we hypothesize that social infrastructure, the group-level interactive aspects of community organizations and institutions, is more strongly related to the existence of self-development than industrial recruitment. A key finding is that social infrastructure, measured by the existence of active community organizations, businesses that support local community projects, community-wide fund-raising capacity, and extra-local linkages to peer communities and state government, is positively associated with the existence of self-development. The relationship between social infrastructure and industrial recruitment is also significant but more modest. Findings indicate that a community's social organization can be a resource for development, but may be more appropriate for endogenous development efforts than exogenous ones.     

From Sex Roles to Patriarchy: Recent Developments in the Sociology of Women—A Review Essay*

Bernard, Jessie. 1981. The Female World. New York: Free Press. Epstein, Cynthia Fuchs. 1981. Women in Law. New York: Basic Books. Leghorn, Lisa, and Katherine Parker. 1981. Women's Worth: Sexual Economics and the World of Women. Boston: Routlodgo and Kcgan Paul. Lovenduski, Joni, and Jill Hills, eds. 1981. The Politics of the Second Electorate: Women and Public Participation. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. Sokoloff, Natalie J. 1980. Between Money and Love: The Dialectics of Women's Home and Market Work. New York: Praeger Publishers. Weitzman, Lenore J. 1981. The Marriage Contract: Spouses, Lovers, and the Law. New York: Free Press.     

走出关节炎误区

正只有老年人才会得关节炎?天气冷关节炎就会更加严重?那些关于关节炎的说法,到底哪些才是真的?什么样的人容易患上关节炎A.O型腿的老年人B.运动员C.肥胖患者D.上述所有答案是D。关节炎泛指发生在人体关节及其周围组织的炎性疾病,可分为数十种。我国的关节炎患者有1亿以上,且人数在不断增加。临床表现为关节红、肿、热、痛、功能障碍及关节畸形,严重者导致关节残疾,影响患者生活质量。老年性骨性关节炎与软骨的磨损息息相关。随着年龄的增长,软     

Fertility beyond the frontier: indigenous women,fertility, and reproductive practices in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Recent research suggests that after decades of population decline, indigenous populations of the lowland tropics of Latin America are now experiencing rapid growth. At the same time, conservationists have pronounced indigenous lands as a key to the future of Amazon forests. As such, conservationists should have a good understanding of indigenous demography and impacts on conservation and development. Yet, there is little depth to understanding of these demographic changes and a dearth of quantitative research on the reproductive practices of indigenous populations. This study addresses these gaps through analyses of a household survey of 648 women of reproductive age from five distinct ethnic populations in the Ecuadorian Amazon. We estimate fertility, analyze reproductive intentions and contraceptive use, and determine the unmet need for reproductive health services. The analyses confirm high fertility rates and high levels of unmet need for contraception. With regard to program and policy implications, we conclude by arguing that isolation and cultural barriers present unique challenges to meet the reproductive health needs of these populations. Innovative approaches, such as those merging population–health–environment topics, may be most relevant for meeting these challenges.

Gamblers Anonymous as a Recovery Pathway: A Scoping Review

Given the preponderance of Gamblers Anonymous (GA), there has been relatively little effort to explore the existing evidence base on its effectiveness as a recovery approach for problem gambling. To remedy this gap in the literature we conducted a scoping review of the literature on mutual aid for individuals experiencing problem gambling published between 2002 and 2015. We searched 13 databases and reviewed reference lists and websites of relevant organizations. We reviewed records for eligibility and extracted relevant data from eligible articles. Three reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. We identified 17 studies in 25 publications that were eligible for inclusion. Most studies were conducted in the United States, were cross-sectional in design, and involved both male and female adult participants. Results indicate that the evidence for the effectiveness of GA either as a control condition or in conjunction with formal treatment or medication is inconsistent. An emphasis on patience, using the Serenity Prayer as a way to gain acceptance of financial matters and reality, and absolute assertion of identity as a “compulsive gambler” were identified as important aspects of GA’s recovery culture. There is a need for large-scale randomized controlled trials to determine GA’s effectiveness, as well as research exploring the mechanisms through which GA works, barriers to GA as a recovery approach, and the status of women in the fellowship.     

We are Poor but So Many: the Story of Self-Employed Women in India

When Ela Bhatt, author of this book and founder of the Self-EmployedWomen's Association (SEWA), expressed doubts about the feasibilityof a bank for poor women workers, her colleague, a used garmentdealer, responded ‘we may be poor, but we are so many’.Three years, and many struggles later, they had establisheda profitable bank serving over 11,000 customers with savingsand loans, and governed by representatives of its member-customers.This book tells the story of the development of a union of womenworkers in the ‘informal sector’ in India. It detailsthe almost paralyzing structural challenges, the determinationand solidarity of the women, their impressive achievements andtheir disappointments. It offers an example of how participatorycommunity development efforts, with the right supports,     

Personal management and quality of life: A study of men and women in two cultures

In this study path analysis is applied to the relationships among personal management, resource satisfaction, sense of control, and quality of life. Analysis of survey data from men and women of two cultures provides empirical support for: the conceptual model of resources as inputs; management behavior as throughputs; and satisfactions as outputs. Cultural versus economic effects are analyzed. Management is shown to be related to productivity in all cultural groups. Management behavior directly and indirectly contributes to resource satisfaction, and through increased sense of control contributes to quality of life.     

Book reviews

Qualitative Sociology -