Queers,Bodies and Postmodern Sexualities: A Note on Revisiting the “Sexual” in Symbolic Interactionism

This article reflects on the linkage between developments in symbolic interactionist theory over the past thirty years and the sociological study of the social construction of sexualities. After some personal reflections on the development of the theory, four main themes are highlighted: the links to postmodernism and queer theory; the paths to new research styles; some internal problems with the theory; and the need to reinstall the importance of the body. The article concludes that symbolic interactionism remains a major approach to the study of sexuality.     

Application of Social Science Knowledge to the Community Organization Field

Community organization graduates of the School of Social Work, University of Washington, from 1966 to 1971, found a ready market for their skills although there was evidence of some slackening of demand and broader diversification of initial employment settings in the last two years. Graduates moved rapidly into administrative and management levels and appeared relatively stable in terms of interagency and geographical mobility. The small number of ethnically identified graduates made meaningful comparisons difficult. Sex, however, was a disadvantaging factor in employability and subsequent status. Of the ninety-one graduates surveyed, 94.5 percent responded Similar follow-up study of graduates in other geographic regions was recommended     

ANOMALIES, PROBINGS, INSIGHTS: KEN FOREMAN'S ROLE IN THE SAMPLING INFERENCE CONTROVERSY OF THE LATE 20TH CENTURY

This paper is based on the author's recollections of work done for and with E.K. Foreman, and later developments of that work. It describes most particularly the author's early intimations of the potential for using prediction models in survey sampling, the reasons why the use of such models, especially for inferential purposes, was so strongly resisted in the second half of the 20th century, the manner in which randomization and prediction inferences can be combined, and some advantages flowing from that combination.     

Population Policy in Early Victorian England

This paper argues that the generally-held belief that there was no population policy in Great Britain during its fertility transition is incorrect. There were, in fact, clear and implicit and explicit policies in place by the early 19th Century which aimed at reducing population growth. These were negative, involving elimination of family allowances (the famous Poor Laws), and also positive, through subsidised emigration and ``transportation' of felons to the colonies. Moreover, a changed ``ideation' on the part of the nation's political, intellectual and spiritual leaders, changed norms about marriage and child-bearing, raising sharply the perceived economic and psychic cost of children. Lacking acceptable means to control pregnancies, many working class women resorted to abortion, infanticide and child abandonment to reduce their family size. The policy's actual impact on overall fertility is uncertain but it did constitute a deliberate attempt by society to affect demographic behaviour and outcomes.     

Young Adult Gambling Behaviors and their Relationship with the Persistence of ADHD

Young adulthood is a period renowned for engagement in impulsive and risky behaviors, including gambling. There are some indications that young adults exhibit higher gambling rates in comparison to older adults. Problem gambling has also been linked to ADHD. This longitudinal study examines the relationship between gambling and ADHD among an epidemiological sample of young adults (n = 235; males = 179, females = 56) aged 18-24. Results indicate that individuals who report childhood ADHD symptoms which persist into young adulthood experience greater gambling problem severity than participants with no ADHD or those with non-persistent ADHD.