From Home to the Home Corner: Observing Children's Identity‐Maintenance in Early Childhood Settings

This article draws on data from two recent studies of young children in early childhood settings. One study was of children in a Korean private kindergarten, the other of children in a UK reception class. In each study, the data discussed include both evidence from ‘home’ (including parent interviews) and evidence from ‘school’ (including conversations with the children themselves) on the gendered and ethnic identities the children display in the classroom. The children's stated beliefs and preferences, and their observed choice of activities and friends, appear to be influenced both by the beliefs and behaviour of their families, and by the early childhood environments they are offered. The transition from home to group settings, it is suggested, may reinforce rather than diminish the stereotyping along gendered and ethnic lines, while participation in ‘research’ conversations may provide a rare opportunity for the children to question and reflect on stereotypes.
Copyright © 2006 The Author(s).     

An evaluation of an innovative audiotape method for keeping social care staff up to date with the latest research findings

A small scale exploratory evaluation of an innovative way (using audiotapes) of keeping social care staff informed about research findings is described. The research was mainly qualitative in style, and explored (i) the extent to which the audiotapes raised knowledge about issues at an individual level, and (ii) subsequent changes in agency practice in terms of discussing and sharing literature‐based information over a period of several months. The study was undertaken in four social services departments in England. A total of 29 social care staff answered an initial questionnaire before exposure to the tape itself. Following exposure, four focus groups involving a total of 25 social care staff were undertaken to reveal their attitudes to the content and style of presentation. Finally, three months later, 20 of the original 25 social care staff answered a further round of questions on subsequent use of the tapes as part of practice development. Results generally revealed that social care staff responded well to more informal, conversational styles of presentation on the tape but were critical where a more formal ‘lecture style’ was adopted. Their uptake of research messages was very driven by the specific demands of their own individual work role. Broader relevance for disseminating research results to social care staff is discussed.     

Social work research: the state of the art (or science)

This paper provides a critical review of current trends within social work research methodology. The paper identifies three influential contemporary perspectives in social work research: empirical practice, pragmatism and participatory/critical research. It identifies the different approaches taken by each perspective to what should be researched, how it should be researched, and how truth claims should be evaluated. By exploring the linkages between methodology, social work and wider social and political changes, the paper argues that research is an intensely political rather than a neutral activity.     

Football spectator behaviour in Argentina: a case of separate evolution

There has been a separate and distinctive evolution of football related violence in Argentina. Fighting between rival gangs of fans in Argentina developed independently and considerably in advance of the modern phenomenon of football hooliganism in Britain. This case is argued using Argentine sources not previously translated into English. The distinctive features of Argentine football violence are described and the main differences in relation to England are outlined. Of paramount importance are the explicit political links of Argentine football clubs. Organised football preceeded democratic politics in Argentina which resulted in the new political parties utilising the football infrastructure of neighbourhood-based clubs. The death rate associated with Argentine football is significantly higher than in England, and the role of the police is more negative in Argentina. In the conclusion a framework is proposed for the comparative and historical analysis of football related violence.     

Beyond Good Intentions. Making Anti-discrimination Strategies Work

This article seeks to explore some key questions about effectiveness in anti-discrimination work: what do we know of what works to reduce discrimination faced by disabled people? It takes, as its key focus, current work to reduce discrimination experienced by people who use mental health services, in Britain and internationally. It also looks at initiatives in wider disability communities. It argues on the basis of available evidence (see, particularly, Link &; Phelan, 2001) that initiatives are most likely to succeed if they effectively challenge the power that underpins discrimination, aim to transform beliefs amongst those with the power to discriminate, intervene carefully in the different components of 'discrimination', drawing on evidence of effectiveness and work within a comprehensive framework for ongoing anti-discrimination work. This means targeting anti-discrimination work at different levels and different sectors, working with a range of different organisations and groups, rather than dispersing resources through ad hoc , one-off mini-initiatives. There is no single solution to discrimination, but different elements of potential 'solutions' exist. What is needed is to bring different strands of work together. In particular, it would be helpful to forge a stronger synthesis between, on the one hand, securing legislative improve ment and enforcement, and on the other, promoting the universal benefits of a more inclusive society. Each complements the other.     

Views,events, and debates

Welcome to Gender & Development's Views, events, and debates section. We'd like to invite readers to respond to any of the views expressed in this section, to contact us with reports of events, and to suggest debates on issues relevant to the journal's concern: to inspire and strengthen development initiatives which support the goals of gender equality and women's empowerment.

We'd also like to invite you to send us your feedback on Gender & Development, and suggestions for future issues, to: gadeditor@oxfam.org.uk     

Designing Agendas to Reflect Board Roles and Responsibilities: Results of a Study

Over a nine‐month period the board agendas of a community nonprofit organization were redesigned to reflect a particular board agenda tool titled “Strategic Activities, Resource Planning, and Operations.” Feedback from the board members and executive director indicate strong support for the framework in focusing the work of the board. The framework also has implications for how the executive director and board members prepare for meetings and how the shared leadership of the meetings is played out.